MKIF holds summer boot camp, raises alarm over spate of drug abuse among Students, Youths in Nigeria

A Non-Governmental Organization, Makoji Kelvin Ibrahim foundation, (MKIF) has raised alarm over high intake of illicit drugs among young students in the Country.

The founder of the MKIF Amb. Makoji Kelvin Ibrahim disclosed this on Thursday during the three days bridge Nigeria summer boot camp for 250 Secondary School Students in Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Amb. Ibrahim explained that the recent discoveries by the organization revealed that there was high intake of illicit hard drugs by both secondary and Tertiary Students in Nigeria adding that, all hands must be to deck to nip it in the bud.

Explaining further, he said "It is alarming as it regards the intake of illicit drugs by Students in both secondary and Tertiary institution in our State and Nigeria in general. When I was a teenager, there are certain things I didn't know about. 

"We are aware of the use of tramadol, and other dangerous substance in which many of our youths are addicted to which has destroy their lives. This is a call for action. We need intervention in the lives of our young people because one of the key thing which has continued to cause problem for us in Nigeria is our population that we have.

" If we are not able to quickly harness the potentials of our young people, Nigeria will loose at the end of the day. This programme is a call for help so that we can take back young people from the hands of drug addictions. We need to put an end to illicit use of hard drugs that is why we are hoping that this boot camp, we are going to raise peer educators who will leave here and go into their Schools, communities, and impact to those who couldn't reach out to".

Ibrahim, who is a financial management expert, outlined the rationales behind the summer boot camp in Kogi State.

According to him "Charity they say begins at home. I thought it was a great idea to start from my Country home. There is a gap that needs to be filled. Young people needs mentors. Mentors plays a huge role in the lives of young People. So many social vices going on social media, is as a result of peer pressure. 

"Alot of People are going into many things such as taking hard drugs, engaging in crime which could be traced to lack of mentors. No one is there to speak to them to follow the right path. It is as a result of this I decided to bridge the gap between where the Students are now and where we want the society to be".

He asserted that the illicit use of drugs by Students and Youths in the country has impacted negatively on their educational career. 

Continuing, he observed that "There is lack of motivation which is the key areas. No matter what you teach them, or expose their minds, if they are facing the wrong direction, or being influenced negatively, it can never be well for this set of individuals. This is the more reason we are starting this intervention.  

"We are already speaking with NDLEA and they acknowledge that it is alarming on the numbers of young Students taking hard drugs which is something to be worried about. We are trying to make sure that this kids are listening to the right people. The right people to be listen to are some of the mentors we have brought here to enlighten them on the dangers of taking this hard substance in a bid for them to have a brighter future".

Amb. Ibrahim admonished the Students to remain focus in achieving their dreams 

Our Kogi State Correspondent, reports that he Executive Director, Challenged Parenthood Initiative, (CPI) Eunice Abimbola Agbogun who is partnering with MKIF for the success of the boot camp lauded the initiative from the NGO.

"It is very impactful and timely. I must commend Makoji Kelvin Ibrahim for coming all the way from the United Kingdom to put together this project. This is what we are talking about, as there is still hope for Nigeria if individuals who are doing well in their various field of endeavors all over the world think of how they can give back to their community.

" This is a practical example of impacting lives. We are calling on more individuals who have initiative to come and partner with us and see how we can promote the course of the State and how we can impact positively in the lives of our teenagers because they are the hope of our great nation Nigeria.

" When we give them mentorship to have a change of orientation and behavioral change, I am optimistic that this will go a long way in bringing positive impacts not just in Kogi State but Nigeria in general".

Agbogun, however, lamented on the spate of crime in the Country.

She said "The reason the MKIF is coming up with this is that in our current time, we see that there is so much of crime, insecurity and anti social vices. We have to find out what are the root course of this problem.

"The root course is that some of this Youths are negatively engaged, while some of them are into crime because they are involved in drugs. When they are involved in drugs, it is expected that there will be increase in crime such as advanced fee frauds, armed robbery, kidnapping, to mention but a few in the Country.

" What we need to do now is to give them re-orientation by educating them to know what drug abuse is all about and the dangers to their lives. It will also let them know that the issue of gender based violence can also put them in problem because if they are not educated in terms of giving them sexual and reproductive health Education, they can also get themselves into trouble by having unwanted pregnancy and many more. We are all people of like minds to change the narrative using this boot camp".

A prominent entrepreneur in Kogi State Hon. Paul Ukweyan and Chairman of Lounge 1 Lokoja who was part of those that supported the boot camp opined that drugs abuse has destroyed and eaten deep into the very beginning of young people in the Country.

According to him, "It is from this basis that we have all the social vices in the society today such as armed robbery, kidnapping, banditry and many more. If we are able to control drug abuse, it will go a long way in putting our society in the right direction by ensuring productivity and development. Any persons that takes illicit drug is already destroying his or her life. When young people's mind is destroyed, the society will be destroyed".

While calling on the State Government to partner with MKIF to curtail this menace, Hon Ukweyan admonished the students to take a good advantage of the boot camp to secure their future.

Adding his voice, Rev. William Okolo, Rector St Kizito Seminary is of the view that the boot camp organized by MKIF was timely in Kogi State.

"It is a wonderful initiative given that the human person is capable of achieving anything. The human mind is vast. If properly employed, the human mind can achieve anything. This is coming at a time that Nigeria factors are beginning to set in. Young people are beginning to think that there is little they can do. 

"People no longer believe in honesty, as they are now using this common slangs that school is a scam. This comes to eradicate all of that to widen the students horizon again to believe in themselves that they can become what they want to be. I see this as a timely intervention in the lives of young Students in the Country. 

"This will make them to become a better person for our Country tomorrow. Am particularly happy that MKIF has widen the scope bringing NDLEA and other NGO'S in tackling this social vices which has eaten deep into the fabrics of our society".

The guest Speaker at the summer boot camp Dr Makoji Steven argued that when their is no mentorship, individuals can not share knowledge and experience.

He emphasized that a mentor is expected to empower, support, guide and provide avenue for networking adding that his organization will continue to support the foundation to succeed in Nigeria.

Highpoint of the summer boot camp in Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State includes activities on sports, such as games, community activities, workshop on peer education training, such as finance and money management, sexual and reproductive health Education, Tech trainings on software development, computer and financial literacy and vocational training on soap making, which includes but not limited to small chops and healthy drinks, hair styling/making and barbing (Male Grooming).

Also at the boot camp there was distribution of re-usuable sanitary pads for the teenage girls, shaving sticks for boys, issuing of certificates to all the students who attended the summer boot camp, offering of one academic year scholarship to 50 students who were outstanding during the programme and, football competition to discover raw talents in Kogi State amongst others.

Other partners who supported the summer boot Camp are Courteous Pads, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), Helen Asimegbe Foundation, Idah Club among others.

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