By Favour Ulebor Abuja

In a concerted effort to address pervasive issues of bullying and drug abuse in Nigerian schools, stakeholders convened to strategize preventive measures and enhance community involvement.

The stakeholder engagement and media parley themed:”Training for Schools in Nigeria: Combatting Bullying and Drug abuse” held on Wednesday in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, President of Future Focus Foundation, Chevonne Jibromah, highlighted the alarming trend of primary school students familiar with substances like tramadol, underscoring the urgency of intervention at an early age.

She emphasized the need for comprehensive stakeholder engagement to combat these issues effectively, aiming not only to assist current victims but also to prevent future ones.

Also speaking, the Director General, Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Mohammed Buba, Marwa, represented by Deputy Commander Narcotics, Angela Nweke, stressed the crucial role of educators in implementing robust drug education programs.

She said the drug policy is for early detection and early intervention for students rehabilitation and counseling.

She called for increased parental involvement, noting that effective child upbringing starts at home.

Nweke advocated for community mobilization through initiatives like the War Against Drug Abuse, emphasizing the necessity for widespread awareness and participation to curb drug-related problems.

In his remarks, Director, Secondary Education Board, Muhammed Ladan, acknowledged bullying and drug abuse as interconnected issues affecting student welfare and academic performance.

Ladan highlighted the board’s recent policy initiative aimed at raising awareness among students and parents about the detrimental effects of bullying.

She emphasized the distribution of policy booklets to foster a safer school environment and encourage parental support.

The CEO StarTimes, Joshua Wang, proposed leveraging media platforms to educate students, parents, and teachers about bullying and drug abuse.

He outlined plans to broadcast educational programs via ST Kids and local partner channels to reach diverse audiences, including those in rural areas lacking basic infrastructure.

Wang also advocated for community electrification projects to enhance safety in schools and reduce incidents of bullying.

The National Project Officer Education for Health and Well-being, for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO, Adeyemi Oladeji said UNESCO is currently building the capacity of 8888 teachers to have quality teachers in the country.

He said the 32 billion naira Project is to make sure that teachers have enough capacity to train children, impact them, and develop life skills.

He advised that schools should provide safe spaces to enable students to speak out when they are being bullied.

Collectively, the stakeholders affirmed the importance of collaborative efforts involving government agencies, educational institutions, media outlets, and communities to combat bullying and drug abuse effectively.

They emphasized the need for proactive measures, community engagement, and comprehensive education to safeguard Nigerian students and promote a conducive learning environment.