Succour has come the way of youths who suffer substance abuse with the commissioning of Enoch & Folu Adeboye Rehabilitation Centre at Araga, Epe, Lagos State, reports SAM EYOBOKA.

The Centre is an initiative of the First Born Family of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, which later metamorphosed into Christ Against Drug Abuse Ministry (CADAM).

The project was majorly funded by the General Overseer of the mission, Pastor Enoch Adeboye and his wife, Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye.

While unveiling the Centre recently, Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, assisted by top notch of the church, including Mrs. Folu Adeboye, who doubles as the Matron of the Home, lauded the initiative of the First Born Family, noting that it will go a long way in complimenting efforts of the state govern-ment to eradicate crime in the society and make the state safe for the citizens.

Explaining the rationale for the Home which has produced numerous graduates who have made impacts in various fields, Mrs. Adeboye said it will serve as a centre of transformation for youths who suffer substance abuse and seeking new life.

According to her, the Centre which started its journey in 1991 has treated about 2,000 beneficiaries with about 70 per cent of them living drug free, independent and productive lives in various professions and vocations all over the world.

“Today, we have both formal and informal relationships with about 12 Nigerian universities that send their students to us for the programme and re-admit them to continue and com-plete their education upon our certification”, she said.

Head of First Born Family, Pastor Brown Oyitso lamented that sub-stance abuse has become a scourge in the so-ciety, say-ing the latest project is the church’s response through its Christian Social Responsibility (CSR) platform to arrest the malaise.

Oyitso, who doubles as Pastor-In-Charge of Region 19 and Personal Assistant Missions to the General Overseer, said; the First Born Family (Ikeja) has been very involved in CSR endeavors since Pastor E.A. Adeboye instructed all pastors of the church to get involved in it as a way of giving back to society as a whole and to the neighbor-hoods in which their parishes are located.

“Parishes and Provinces of the First Born Family have refurbished classroom blocks in Lagos State, equipped Computer and Home Economics laboratories in schools, refurbished and equipped police stations, donated vital equipment and bed-sheets worth several millions of naira to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and to the Gbagada General Hospital and donated a fully equipped health centre to Magboro village in Ogun State.

“They have also provided street lights to neighbourhoods, fed thousands of people through their Food on Wheels programme, have given scholarships to several indigent students, have carried out skill acquisition programmes and have provided potable water to several neighbourhoods and villages in Lagos State.

“They are currently planning to build a standard medical diagnostic centre in Lagos, in addition to carrying out the danger of hard drugs enlightenment campaigns”, he said.

A beneficiary of the Centre, Mr. Ilime-zekhe Salvage from Rivers State, who later graduated from a university in Nigeria after rehabilitation, expressed gratitude to God and founders of the Home, saying God used the Centre to save his life from drug abuse as he was addicted to cocaine, heroin, marijuana and other illicit substances. Since he came across CADAM, he said his life has received positive transformation.