Nigeria (Blank NEWS Online) – 
The Delta State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has urged youths to avoid the twin vices of drug abuse and cultism if they are to become meaningful and respectable members of the society.
The Governor gave the injunction on Thursday at a symposium, on ‘Dangers of Cultism and Drug Abuse’ put together by the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Orientation and Social Development at the Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku.
Governor Okowa who declared the conference open through a representative, the Senior Special Adviser, Special Duties, Government House, Hon. Sam Obi, observed that the prevalence of cultism and drug abuse in institutions of higher learning was one of the moral failures which should be combated by well- meaning members of the society due to their disruptive effects to the careers of youths.
“As youths, you should dedicate your talents, energies and time to meaningful activities and ventures that will positively impact on the socio-economic and political transformation of the society and this can be best achieved if you are prepared physically, spiritually and mentally”, he said, adding that “These attributes according to the Governor, cannot be acquired through cultism or drug abuse.”
Senator Okowa noted that his administration has built enough mechanism to keep youths off crime through numerous empowerment and skill acquisition programmes as encapsulated in the SMART agenda.
He enjoined youths to stay out of crime while calling on individuals and corporate bodies to complement government’s effort at providing opportunities that would enable youths actualize their dreams.
The Guest speaker at the occasion, Professor Patrick Muoboghare enjoined the students to be bold enough to resist entrities by dangerous groups to recruit them.
Professor Muoboghare informed the students that drug abuse and cultism are twin evil that can not lead to a fulfilled academic pursuit.
Also speaking at the symposium, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okowa, Mr. Charles Ehiedu Aniawgu, attributed the causes of drug abuse and cultism to – lack of self esteem, low self-esteem, inordinate ambition, ignorance and or bad company.
He counseled the students that the best approach to freeing themselves from these vices was to, first of all, recognize the essence of being in the school., noting that if a student is conscious of the fact that his or her mission in going to school is to attain progress and enjoy higher/quality self esteem, it would be easier to withstand the pressure of bad influences.
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Okowa on Orientation and Social Development, Barr. Eugene Uzum, had earlier informed the gathering that his office in collaboration with the management and staff of Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic and ‘Force Movement’ a non-profit organization, initiated the workshop to sensitize youths, particularly undergraduates, on the dangers of cultism and drug abuse.
Uzum recounted the fate of so many families whose future has been ruined by the indulgence in cultism or drug by their wards and observed that the seminar was the partnership’s contribution to stemming the growing ugly trend.
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