Substance abuse, rape, high rate of out of school children and child marriages are few out of the many issues northern Nigeria is currently facing with no end in sight to these challenges that seem to gradually threaten the future of the youths in the region. Recent event has shown that all these have detrimental effects and psychological trauma on the victims and the society at large. According to The National Survey on Drug Use and Health conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Centre for Research and Information on Substance Abuse (CRISA) with technical support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in 2017, Cannabis, cough syrups (containing codeine or dextromethorphan) and pharmaceutical opioids (tramadol, codeine, morphine) are the three groups of substance with high prevalence in the North-Central zone.
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The launch of a Non-Governmental Organisation, Hope Foundation, by the wife of the Nasarawa state governor, Hajiya Silifat Sule to help tackle the issues of rape, drug abuse and promote girl-child education in the state is a welcome intervention, especially at a time when various stakeholders have decried the high rate of substance abuse in Nasarawa state. Recently, the state commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Justice Arinze raised the alarm on the alarming rate of abuse of psychotropic substances by students in the state.
Hajiya Silifat Sule, during the launch, explained that she chose to tackle rape and drug abuse because of their prevalence in the society and their negative effects on victims, especially youths.
“Sensitizing the people on the hazards of these vices and fighting to eradicate their ills will yield positive results and prevent health outcomes such as unwanted pregnancies and mental challenges among others.”
For those familiar with her, this doesn’t come as a surprise. Hajiya Silifat Sule has distinguished herself as a social reformer and crusader who has never been shy to take up issues affecting the masses. Taking the bold step to float an NGO to address these issues is worthy of commendation, especially for one who doesn’t enjoy being in the spotlight.
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