By Lukman Olabiyi
A football club, Ablaze FC of Lagos and a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Right to Smile Academy have taken the campaign against drug abuse and cultism to the youths in Ijede, Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
• Participants at the event
Apart from the campaign, the youths in the area also benefitted from the free medical care, coaching clinic for footballers, career seminar and counselling by the two bodies.
The three-day programme ended with a football competition organised by the duo.
Speaking on the event, tagged:”Save our future-say no to drug abuse,” the project director, Oluwafisayo Osho said the initiative was meant to compliment the government’s effort on eradication of drug abuse among the youths.
He disclosed that the imitative is meant to reach out to larger youths in Lagos State and Nigeria, saying it would continue.
Osho called for support from private organisations, kind-hearted individuals and government, noting that the project would not become a reality without the support of great minds and people who believe in the strength of the youths, especially in the area of sports.
According to him, “all this could not have been possible without the support of great minds and vision, we hope to make it bigger and better; make it more entertaining and attractive for people to always look out for it and be part of it, till we achieve our aims and goals of touching many lives.
“It is a project created to contribute our own quota to development of the society; it is our own Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, to give back to the society and this is the second edition, being held in Ijede, Ikorodu community.
“It is not about talking to them alone but we also engage them through sports, counsel them on why and how to stay away from drug abuse due to its effect on their future and career and also give them free medical care.
“Within the three days, we are able to engage youths in the community by going round with different placards on campaigns against drug abuse and cultism.
“This exercise gives us the opportunity of meeting one on one with some victims of drug abuse and cultism who also shared their experiences of the menace; its effect on them and their career,” he revealed.
Osho said the next edition of the programme will be held in March 2024.
Narrating his ordeal to the youths who participated in the programme, a victim of the menace, who claimed that he was a talented footballer before drug and cultism ruined his career, charged the youths to do away with drugs or any social vices that could later harm their progress.
He said: “I was a talented footballer but when I joined cult groups, my career ended as a footballer. I couldn’t go out again to train due to the fear of the unknown. I always remained indoors for my safety, I was later introduced to drugs which made my matter worse, I regret my action and that is why I am imploring you not to follow the same path that I followed then.”
He urged the organiser not to relent in doing more on campaign on campaign against drug and cultism.
Meanwhile, in the football competition, the female category was won by Wazbak FC. The female team became victorious after defeating its opponent, Dynamic Queens by 9-8 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.
The male category was won by the host, Right to Smile Academy, defeating its opponent Circle Range FC 4-1.