Mr. Adeoye Aribasoye, Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, has urged youths in the state to abstain from drug usage so they can realize their potential and make important contributions to societal development.
As part of events to honor this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse, the Speaker made the comments on Monday while addressing leaders and members of the state chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), who organized the “Ekiti Youth Peace Walk” to the Assembly Complex.
In order to create a more tranquil society, Aribasoye urged all state stakeholders to band together and put an end to the drug usage epidemic.
In order to help Governor Biodun Oyebanji realize his Shared Prosperity Agenda for the state’s whole population, Aribasoye also took use of the interface to solicit support from the state’s youth.
He particularly thanked the youths for appreciating the Oyebanji Administration’s enormous accomplishments on the many banners and placards they carried throughout their parade, as well as for recognizing the Governor’s efforts in their statements.
The Speaker encouraged the NYCN team to participate in governance by presenting private bills for the state legislature to consider in important areas that concern them, particularly in policy formation and decision-making. The Speaker was joined by other Assembly members to welcome the NYCN team.
The Seventh Assembly is prepared to pass a law that would outlaw smoking in public areas, the Speaker added, saying that “smoking in public does not only affect the smokers but also affects non-smokers.”
Speaking on the effects of drug misuse on young people, Aribasoye expressed sadness that the use of hard drugs has had a bad impact on young people and urged all parties involved to work together to reverse the trend for the benefit of the youth and their future.
He said: “Today, as you have observed, is the International Day Against Drug Abuse. One of the things that have destroyed the future of the youths is drug abuse and all of us must be ambassadors, all of us must be champions to campaign against drug abuse.
“Anywhere we find ourselves, we must campaign against drug abuse. We just have to do it for us to have a saner society, we must campaign against drug abuse, it is very, very important.
“Drug abuse has affected many lives and destroyed destinies. God has given our youths talents to positively affect their generation and we must not allow drug abuse to hinder them from realizing their potentials.
“Very soon, we are coming up with a law against smoking in public, which does not only affect the smokers but those who don’t smoke, who must be protected from the effects of smoking in public.”
The Speaker further urged the youths to unify as a single force, urging all youth organizations to merge in the best interests of the state’s youths.
He pledged that the Youth Committee would work closely with the NYCN to safeguard the interests of youngsters and help them achieve the best outcomes possible in the state’s grand scheme of things once the standing committees of the Assembly were established.
Earlier, Mr. Oluwasegun Famuyibo, the state NYCN Chairman, promised the support of the organization and all of the state’s youths for the Oyebanji Administration, which he referred to as “youth-friendly.”
Gov. Oyebanji was praised by Famuyibo for establishing the Ministry of Youths and Job Creation, which he termed as a brave move to improve the welfare of the young and combat youth unemployment in the state.
He also praised the Oyebanji Administration for a number of ongoing infrastructure initiatives in the state, including road development and restoration, empowering the underprivileged, and enhancing the local economy.
The head of the state’s NYCN stated that young people in the state are opposed to hard drugs and would continue to advocate vehemently against the problem in coordination with pertinent governmental authorities and other stakeholders.
Additionally, he gave the Speaker a copy of the NYCN’s action plan for review and implementation.
Leadership of the NYCN and delegates from other Southwest states joined the procession to the Assembly Complex.
