By means of Millicent Ifeanyichukwu and Modupe Olorundare
Stakeholders within the training sector have recommended secondary faculty scholars in Lagos Island to withstand peer drive, shun cultism and substance abuse, and promptly record threats to depended on adults.
They gave the recommendation on Wednesday on the Annual Lecture and Mentoring Workshop organised via Eko Boys to Males.
The programme, with with the theme “R.O.T.E.C.T: Save you Outreach for Teenagers Endangered via Cultism and Substance Abuse These days”, curious about prevention, rehabilitation, sure relationships and persona building.
Mr Henry Shofowora, Chairman, Welfare and Club Committee of the affiliation, stated the initiative aimed to provide again to Lagos Island via serving to younger other folks make accountable possible choices.
He recommended scholars to spot sure qualities of their buddies, noting that supportive relationships may beef up educational efficiency, construct self belief and inspire accountable behaviour.
“Actual brotherhood provides a long term, no longer a weapon,” Shofowora stated.
He recommended scholars to practise sure self-affirmation, stay responsible to guardians and face up to damaging influences.
He inspired them to include entrepreneurship, generation and sensible abilities to broaden resourcefulness and get ready for long term alternatives.
Shofowora warned that substance abuse may reason well being headaches, emotional instability and deficient focus, whilst misusing natural combos and prescription medications may endanger younger other folks.
He additionally inspired scholars to broaden verbal exchange abilities, describing assured talking and efficient engagement as precious belongings for careers in gross sales, advertising and marketing and different fields.
Throughout a panel consultation, Mr Opeoluwa Taiwo, Govt Director of The African Initiative, recommended scholars to strengthen friends experiencing substance-use issues with out stigmatising them.
Taiwo stated scholars must recognize affected buddies’ difficulties, display working out and assist them get entry to skilled help, together with rehabilitation the place important.
He cited instances of people whose educational attainable and social self belief had suffered on account of drug use, stressing that educational fulfillment on my own introduced no coverage.
Mr Adeleke Salaudeen, a Leader Superintendent of Police, Lagos Island Space Command, warned scholars in opposition to compelled recruitment into cult teams and urged them to steer clear of threatening folks.
Salaudeen cautioned in opposition to accepting invites that would disclose younger other folks to medicine and cult-related actions, urging vigilance and avoidance of scenarios threatening their protection.
He inspired scholars to record suspicious actions and threats to academics, principals, faculty safety committees or different depended on adults.
The panellists emphasized that safety used to be a shared duty, urging scholars to include the primary: “While you see one thing, say one thing.”
They urged scholars threatened via cult teams to hunt assist from depended on academics, spiritual leaders, kin and group contributors, in particular when drawing near strict folks appeared tough.
Mr Abiodun Olabijoye, Most important of Eko Akete Senior Grammar Faculty, stated confidence-building started at house, stressing folks’ duty to nurture self-belief with out encouraging conceitedness.
Ayinla Muheez, a mascot performer who spoke about his interactions with prisoners, warned that drug-related offences and cultism may result in imprisonment, stigma and employment difficulties.
He recounted the revel in of a former prisoner who struggled to safe employment after conviction and again and again indignant earlier than learning criminology and rebuilding his circle of relatives lifestyles.
Charles Chibuzor, a substance-abuse survivor, shared his revel in, caution scholars in opposition to experimenting with medicine or yielding to damaging peer drive.
Chibuzor stated early publicity to cigarettes at house and drive from buddies led him to hashish use, different medicine and promoting ingredients in class.
He recounted struggling critical withdrawal headaches, together with bleeding from his nostril and ears, after a blood vessel ruptured, requiring health center remedy.
Chibuzor stated surviving the ordeal caused him to depart the damaging surroundings and start rebuilding his lifestyles.
Urging scholars to make accountable possible choices and determine sure friendships, he declared: “Say no to medicine, keep sensible, don’t get started.”
Previous, Mr Wale Adeyekun, the challenge coordinator, welcomed collaborating faculty officers, scholars, safety workforce and different stakeholders, acknowledging their contributions to selling more secure possible choices amongst younger other folks.
The workshop additionally featured discussions on public talking, with panellists recommending preparation, paying attention to information and skilled audio system, and studying from mentors to beef up self belief.
Eko Boys to Males Affiliation (EBTM) is a Lagos Island-based social organisation that promotes early life building via mentorship, profession steering and talents acquisition.
The affiliation seeks to assist younger other folks broaden self-discipline, self belief, sure values and sensible abilities wanted for tutorial fulfillment and accountable maturity.
Its tasks deliver scholars into touch with skilled pros and mentors, encouraging them to make knowledgeable profession possible choices and give a contribution definitely to society.
The affiliation has extensively utilized school-based workshops to deal with demanding situations dealing with younger other folks and advertise optimistic possible choices to damaging social influences.
Contributors on the workshop stressed out that combating cultism and substance abuse required cooperation amongst households, faculties, safety businesses and communities, along early intervention and get entry to to rehabilitation. (NAN)
Edited via Kamal Tayo Oropo