UI, NDLEA will collaborate to fight drug abuse — VC

Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, has assured the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of the university’s resolve to collaborate with the agency to fight drug abuse.

Professor Adebowale gave the assurance while receiving the state commander of NDLEA, Olayinka Joe-Fadile and his entourage, during a courtesy visit to the vice chancellor’s office.

He said that the university is doing its best through the Centre for Social Orientation and the Counselling and Career Development Centre to fight the menace of drug abuse and other identifiable negative tendencies.

The NDLEA’s commander of narcotics, in his response, said investigations had shown that there is an increase in drug usage among children, ranging from primary to tertiary levels, adding that the University of Ibadan is also vulnerable.

He noted that the NDLEA did not see drug users as criminals but as victims, whom the agency is rehabilitating with the support of professional counsellors and psychologists in collaboration with the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

He disclosed that a functional rehabilitation centre had been established in Iseyin to cater for this.

The NDLEA state commander recalled that the NDLEA had also established a ‘War Against Drug Abuse Club,’ urging the VC to create such a club in UI.

He propossed that the NDLEA should be made part of the institution’s orientation programme for fresh students and other programmes in the university, in order to adequately enlighten the students and help the university in its move to produce graduates who are worthy in character and learning.