By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Haruna Ibrahim, has said drug addiction is a menace which threatens public health and results in the dissolution of human personality, promoting conditions for various forms of human degradation, whose consequences spread to crime and lawlessness in the society.
Brig. Gen. Ibrahim stated this on Saturday in his speech as Special Guest of Honour to commemorate the International Day of the Boy Child which took place at the 7 Division Nigerian Army, NAOWA Secretariat Conference Hall, Maimalari Cantonment Maiduguri.
NATIONAL ACCORD reports that the International Day of the Boy Child, celebrated on Thursday, May 16th, 2024 is a day to focus on boys and their well-being, their needs to feel happy, healthy, and valued within family and community.
Established to mirror the International Day of the Girl Child, this day highlights the unique challenges and pressures faced by boys in different regions and cultures. It provides an opportunity for societies to reflect on issues such as educational disparities, mental health, and societal expectations that affect boys disproportionately.
This year’s International Day of the Boy Child is with the theme: “Cool Boys Managing Anger and Aggression”.
The GOC, further, commended officials and members of the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA) for organizing a one-day sensitization lecture on curbing the menace of drug abuse among youths in the barracks.
Brig. General Ibrahim also attributed the lingering crisis of Boko Haram terrorists to drug addiction, saying most of the captured terrorists and recovery of their arms and ammunition in the bush by troops revealed contents of suspected drug -related substances which they use in perpetrating evils.
“I want to commend NAOWA for organizing this event, it is a special day dedicated to recognize Boys and their basic human rights from exploitation.
“This lecture and sensitization will go along way in reducing or halting our children in the barracks to engage in drug abuse. At the week end of the day, we pray and hope that it will make them mentally and physically sound as the mingle in their schools and their day to day activities.
“I want to also use this opportunity to caution parents, not to neglect their children, especially the boy child after giving birth to them, but to properly support and nurture them socially and with the fear of God.
” This is very important because, most of the social vices we are witnessing in the society was as a result of neglect and poor upbringing by parents, which is unacceptable,” Hassan said.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Chairperson of NAOWA , 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Mrs. Aisha Ibrahim, represented by the Head Teacher of NAOWA Model Primary School, Mrs Zara Mustapha said, the association would continue to give maximum support to the children in the barracks, to ensure they grow and become useful to the society.
She also commended the National President of NAOWA, Mrs Mariya Lagbaja and the military authorities for their unflinching support towards hosting the event.
Mrs. Aisha further noted that “the International Day of the Boy Child was suppose to be celebrated since, but NAOWA choose to shift its own today as it allowed the children have access to their school activities during that time when they were busy in school session”.
The guest lecturer, who is also the Assistant Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Borno State Command, Mr. Sardauna Abdullahi highlighted extensively on the dangers of drug addiction, and its attendant consequences to children and youths in the society.
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