POCACOV sensitises 400 police pupils against drug abuse, cultism

The Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), Lagos State Command, on Wednesday sensitised about 400 pupils of the Police Children School, Ikeja, on the dangers of cultism, drug abuse and other social vices.

The programme, themed “Right Choices, Great Future,” was designed to equip the pupils with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions that would positively shape their lives and future aspirations.

Speaking at the event, Mr Henry Bassey urged the pupils to be law-abiding and cultivate open and trusting relationships with their parents, teachers and other responsible adults.

He encouraged them to speak out whenever they faced threats, abuse or any situation that could compromise their safety, rather than keeping such experiences to themselves.

Also speaking, a mental health expert at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Dr Hezekiah Akinlade, delivered a detailed lecture on drug and substance abuse.

Akinlade explained that drug abuse could damage the health of young people, negatively affect their academic performance, strain relationships and derail their future ambitions.

He therefore urged the pupils to resist peer pressure and embrace healthy lifestyles that would support their education and personal development.

The Lagos State Coordinator of POCACOV, SP Olivia A. Ugochukwu, said the choices young people make today would ultimately shape the future they build.

She advised the pupils to remain focused on their education, choose their friends wisely, respect their parents and teachers, obey the law and shun behaviours capable of jeopardising their safety and development.

The pupils responded enthusiastically to the campaign and pledged to make positive choices in their daily lives.

The Head Teacher of the school, Dr Olayide Bilikis, expressed appreciation to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, for selecting the school as a beneficiary of the campaign.

The initiative forms part of POCACOV’s preventive strategy to tackle cultism and other social vices through early engagement, value reorientation and empowerment of young people to become responsible and productive members of society.