Politics
BRIGADIER-General Buba Marwa, director-general of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, inaugurates Behavioural Action Care Foundation Center in Ogbomosho, Oyo State.
The Ogbomosho First Community Initiative, O-First Group, a socio-cultural organization, established in 2009, has inaugurated the Behavioural Action Care Foundation Center at the weekend in Ogbomosho, Oyo State.
Brig. Gen. Buba Mohammed Marwa (rtd), chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, opened the facility, which the O-First Group started two years ago as part of its contribution to the fight against abuse of drugs by Ogbomosho indigenes.
Also present at the historic event were prominent Ogbomoso traditional rulers, legislators, local government chairmen, leaders of thought, and indigenes.
During the inauguration, Olusegun Adeyemi Adekunle, president of the Ogbomoso First Community Initiative, reiterated the necessity for the formation of the group 10 years ago while also enumerating the achievements of the group so far.
“The conceptualization of this Care Action Center has arisen out of the growing decadence observable in our society generally as socio-economic development enveloped the city and neighboring communities. Particularly disturbing is the phenomenon of drug and substance use and abuse by persons of all demographics and gender (youths, adults, weak and vulnerable)
“The effect of this cannot be overemphasized as they range from mental health challenges to safety, security, socio-economic impacts such as the increasing drop in school attendance, severe criminal activities, cybercrimes, and cultism. The situation has been further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, the decline in economic fortunes, increasing unemployment, etc. The O-First Group is even more worried about what the future holds in stock for Ogbomoso and its environs in terms of producing highly skilled manpower, investment, security, industrial development, agricultural development, educational development, and a host of other factors if our youths are allowed to destroy themselves needlessly,” he said.
According to Adekunle, the O-First Group recognizes the fact that addressing this problem will need collaboration with various interest groups and entities, networking, planning, concerted efforts on targeted awareness creation and sensitization segments of the society, and deploying strategies that will be sustainable and effective.
“The Group is therefore convinced that while it continues to build alliances and domestic collaboration in and around Ogbomoso, because the bulk of the solution is local, partnering with the NDLEA is of strategic importance being the prime Agency of government in charge of drug control. Similarly, we are in contact with the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime to seek help.
“Going forward in this partnership, therefore, our Joint Action Committee (JAC) shall remain sensitive to the fact that “nobody is safe until drugs use and substance abuse is eliminated,” he said.
He said that to achieve this, the Action Care Foundation Center shall be responsible for sensitization and awareness; testing and detection; counseling and care; infrastructure development; treatment, skills acquisition, and empowerment.
The group has also initiated several social and economic empowerment programs targeted towards the betterment of the Ogbomosho people.
He recalled with pride the steps already taken by the group to include the empowerment of indigent people with 100 sewing machines and sponsorship and active participation in the 2018 United Nations Day on Fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking through sensitization through radio talk show.
The group also organized a public Lecture in LAUTECH on the theme “Listen First to the Children and Youth”; a 1000-man march around Ogbomoso Township on drug elimination and distributed thousands of exercise books branded with the 2018 United Nations Theme on the fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
Other activities it engaged in include sponsoring a 13-week radio program for sensitization and advocacy on drug abuse; inauguration of Drug-Free Clubs in schools and acquisition of starter packs for some training programs such as hairdressing, petroleum jelly production, sanitizer production, liquid soap production.
Realnews gathered that the Ogbomosho First Group is the first community-led intervention program for fight drug abuse in the South West Geo-political Zone.
– Mar. 24, 2021 @ 8:41 GMT
Tags: Marwa inaugurates Ogbomosho Care Foundation Center
