Education District VI has strengthened its collaboration with the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) as part of efforts to curb substance abuse among students and promote safer learning environments across schools within the district.
The partnership was reinforced during a courtesy visit by district officials to the NDLEA Zone VIII Command in Gbagada, where both parties discussed strategies for preventive sensitisation and student protection.
Leading the delegation, the Director of Schools Administration, Adeola Ayo-Vaugh, said the district remains committed to proactive measures that address emerging social challenges affecting learners.
According to her, prevention remains more effective than rehabilitation, making it necessary to engage stakeholders and equip students with the knowledge needed to avoid harmful behaviours.
Receiving the team, the Zonal Commander of NDLEA Zone VIII, Aniete Nse Inam, assured the district of the agency’s support in combating drug abuse among young people.
She stressed that safeguarding children requires a collective effort involving schools, parents, communities and government institutions.
“Schools and teachers cannot do it alone. Parents must play active roles in guiding, supervising and instilling the right values in their children,” she said.
The Principal of Igbo-Owu Senior Secondary School, Olufemi Idowu, expressed concern over what he described as the growing normalisation of substance abuse among young people.
He called for sustained awareness campaigns to educate students about the long-term consequences of drug use on their health, academic performance and future prospects.
As part of the collaboration, Education District VI announced plans to begin pilot intervention programmes in schools around the Igbo-Owu axis, targeting students in Junior Secondary School Three (JSS3) and Senior Secondary School One and Two (SS1 and SS2).
The district also invited the NDLEA to participate in its upcoming Parent Forum scheduled for June, with discussions expected to focus on strengthening parental involvement in drug abuse prevention and student welfare.
Both organisations pledged to deepen collaboration through advocacy campaigns, stakeholder engagements and school-based sensitisation programmes aimed at promoting a drug-free and safer educational environment for students.
