By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu and Modupe Olorundare
Stakeholders within the schooling sector have urged secondary college college students in Lagos Island to withstand peer stress, shun cultism and substance abuse, and promptly report threats to trusted adults.
They gave the recommendation on Wednesday on the Annual Lecture and Mentoring Workshop organised by Eko Boys to Men.
The programme, with with the theme “R.O.T.E.C.T: Prevent Outreach for Teens Endangered by Cultism and Substance Abuse Today”, centered on prevention, rehabilitation, optimistic relationships and character improvement.
Mr Henry Shofowora, Chairman, Welfare and Membership Committee of the affiliation, mentioned the initiative aimed to provide again to Lagos Island by serving to younger individuals make accountable decisions.
He urged college students to determine optimistic qualities of their pals, noting that supportive relationships might enhance tutorial efficiency, construct confidence and encourage accountable behaviour.
“Real brotherhood offers a future, not a weapon,” Shofowora mentioned.
He urged college students to practise optimistic self-affirmation, stay accountable to guardians and resist unfavourable influences.
He inspired them to embrace entrepreneurship, expertise and sensible abilities to develop resourcefulness and put together for future alternatives.
Shofowora warned that substance abuse might trigger well being problems, emotional instability and poor focus, whereas misusing natural mixtures and prescription medicines might endanger younger individuals.
He additionally inspired college students to develop communication abilities, describing assured talking and efficient engagement as priceless property for careers in gross sales, advertising and different fields.
During a panel session, Mr Opeoluwa Taiwo, Executive Director of The African Initiative, urged college students to assist friends experiencing substance-use issues with out stigmatising them.
Taiwo mentioned college students ought to acknowledge affected pals’ difficulties, present understanding and assist them entry skilled help, together with rehabilitation the place crucial.
He cited instances of people whose tutorial potential and social confidence had suffered due to drug use, stressing that tutorial achievement alone supplied no safety.
Mr Adeleke Salaudeen, a Chief Superintendent of Police, Lagos Island Area Command, warned college students towards compelled recruitment into cult teams and suggested them to keep away from threatening people.
Salaudeen cautioned towards accepting invites that would expose younger individuals to medicine and cult-related actions, urging vigilance and avoidance of conditions threatening their security.
He inspired college students to report suspicious actions and threats to academics, principals, college safety committees or different trusted adults.
The panellists emphasised that safety was a shared duty, urging college students to embrace the precept: “When you see something, say something.”
They suggested college students threatened by cult teams to hunt assist from trusted academics, spiritual leaders, kin and group members, significantly when approaching strict dad and mom appeared troublesome.
Mr Abiodun Olabijoye, Principal of Eko Akete Senior Grammar School, mentioned confidence-building started at house, stressing dad and mom’ duty to nurture self-belief with out encouraging vanity.
Ayinla Muheez, a mascot performer who spoke about his interactions with prisoners, warned that drug-related offences and cultism might result in imprisonment, stigma and employment difficulties.
He recounted the expertise of a former prisoner who struggled to safe employment after conviction and repeatedly offended earlier than finding out criminology and rebuilding his household life.
Charles Chibuzor, a substance-abuse survivor, shared his expertise, warning college students towards experimenting with medicine or yielding to harmful peer stress.
Chibuzor mentioned early publicity to cigarettes at house and stress from pals led him to hashish use, different medicine and promoting substances at school.
He recounted struggling extreme withdrawal problems, together with bleeding from his nostril and ears, after a blood vessel ruptured, requiring hospital therapy.
Chibuzor mentioned surviving the ordeal prompted him to go away the dangerous setting and start rebuilding his life.
Urging college students to make accountable decisions and set up optimistic friendships, he declared: “Say no to drugs, stay smart, don’t start.”
Earlier, Mr Wale Adeyekun, the undertaking coordinator, welcomed collaborating college officers, college students, safety personnel and different stakeholders, acknowledging their contributions to selling safer decisions amongst younger individuals.
The workshop additionally featured discussions on public talking, with panellists recommending preparation, listening to information and skilled audio system, and studying from mentors to enhance confidence.
Eko Boys to Men Association (EBTM) is a Lagos Island-based social organisation that promotes youth improvement by way of mentorship, profession steerage and abilities acquisition.
The affiliation seeks to assist younger individuals develop self-discipline, confidence, optimistic values and sensible abilities wanted for educational achievement and accountable maturity.
Its initiatives carry college students into contact with skilled professionals and mentors, encouraging them to make knowledgeable profession decisions and contribute positively to society.
The affiliation has additionally used school-based workshops to handle challenges dealing with younger individuals and promote constructive alternate options to unfavourable social influences.
Participants on the workshop harassed that stopping cultism and substance abuse required cooperation amongst households, faculties, safety businesses and communities, alongside early intervention and entry to rehabilitation. (NAN)
Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo
