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 By Efe Onodjae

 The fight against drugs and substance abuse will now assume a new dimension following the resolve of entertainers to take the forefront in the campaign.

This was the assertion of the Executive Director, African Youths Initiative on Crime Prevention , Amb. Chris Ibeh, at the media  launch  of Campaign Against Drugs and Substance Abuse CADSA,  held at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja , Lagos State.

While commending efforts of the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement  Agency, NDLEA  Brig. Gen Buba Marwa (rtd)  for   his doggedness in the fight against drug trafficking , Ibeh , stated that with  CADSA on board,  campaign against illicit substance use would  witness   a boost.

He said, “The greatest movers or  influencers of drug-related issues in Nigeria and globally is the entertainment industry.  Perhaps  they do  not understand their  effect on society. So,  it is a thing of joy that this program is coming from the entertainment sector.

” There have been instances where Nigeria musicians push drug issues in their videos while some of them  died  as a result of drugs and substance abuse. So,  it is a thing of joy  that we now have stakeholders from the entertainment industry coming to say no to drugs and substance abuse . This is a  step forward in complimenting the efforts of the NDLEA”.

 On his part, the Converner/ Executive Director , CADSA Project ,Valentine  Ani aka Zhyon , explained that   CADSA project was   organized by Afestac Media in partnership with Advocates for Global Peace Forum International and AFOREVO Television with the  aim of  applying  the power of entertainment   against the scourge and  with special focus on secondary and tertiary institution students”

He  put drug use prevalence in Nigeria at  14.4% as against 5.5% global drug use prevalence. Youths according to him, “constitute   40%, out of which students  make up between 20-29% . All hands need to be on deck across board for there to be a meaningful head way in the battle against drug and substance abuse, or risk the ticking time-bomb which is bound to explode in no distant future”.

Explaining his motive for initiating the project, Zhyon  who has  been in the  entertainment industry for over 26 years, as a Sound engineer and music producer,  said, “I am from a background where drugs are celebrated and have done pretty havoc.  Thus, I can easily relate.  I birthed this initiative of campaigning against drugs and substance abuse in a collaborative effort with  other organizations”, he stated.