By John Ikani
The Chairman of Nigerian Young Professionals Forum (NYPF), Moses Siloko Siasia has urged young people to shun drug abuse and other vices, stressing that their future “would be a reflection of the choices they make today.“
Siasia gave the charge on Tuesday at a programme organized by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Calabar, Cross River State to mark the International Youth Day 2021.
The NYPF boss who was the Lead Speaker of the programme themed ‘Drugs, Cultism and Social Vices amongst Youths’ lamented that drugs abuse is wiping out a generation of promising young people in the country.
Sharing the experience of how he rose to become a successful entrepreneur, the Chief Executive Officer of Mosilo Group disclosed that following the death of his father, he hawked various items, planted flowers for people and resisted temptations to engage in illicit drugs while fighting his way to the top.
Advising the youths, he said: “I had a choice to go into drugs, when I lost my father and I saw poverty. Drug abuse and cultism are wiping out a promising generation of Nigerians. Young people are addicted to drugs. Some are joining cults others have made up their minds to engage in productive ventures. Life is about choices.
“The choice I made many years ago has brought me where I am. I have never tested drugs. I have never engaged in cultism but today I am being celebrated because I remained focused.
The Former candidate of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) in the 2015 governorship election in Bayelsa State went on to urge youths to study the life and rise of the richest men in Nigeria, stressing that they shunned drug abuse and other social vices.
“Read the stories of richest men in Nigeria. They were not involved in drugs and cultism. You have a choice before you. If you want to take charge of your future.
“You must start small to grow big. People want to be like me but they don’t know about the challenges I have gone through.
Speaking earlier, Siasia commended the NDDC for organizing the programme which had hundreds of students from various secondary schools in attendance including members of the Boys Brigade and other stakeholders.
Also present at the event was the Interim Administrator of the NDDC, Effiong Akwa who was represented by his Special Adviser On Youths and Sports, Udengs Eradiri, Cross River commissioners for Social Housing, George Obenetchi, Cross River State Commissioner for International Development Cooperation; Inyang Asibong among other dignitaries.
What you should know
Siasia’s advice comes at a time that drug abuse has torn families apart, churned out thousands of child victims and utterly decimated an entire generation of people, young and old.
A drug-infested population is a hotbed for violent criminal behaviours, and according to Brigadier General Buba Marwa, chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), there is a nexus between recreational drug use and terrorism, insurgency, kidnapping, and banditry.
It’s frightening to contemplate Africa’s future in the face of an illicit drug epidemic, given that rich nations of the Western world continue to grapple with and are ravaged by it, despite the enormous resources at their disposal.
Therefore, sensitizing young people about the dangers of drug abuse is one the efficient means of eradicating the menace as torturing addicts, arresting and throwing them in jail, while leaving the drug barons to enjoy their ill-gotten wealth, may not help in the long run but rather produce repeat offenders who will come back to harm the society.
