HURIWA expands campaign against drugs to Aba, Onitsha

It was a great moment for students of Washington Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha, Anambra State and Great St Pauls International Secondary School (formerly: Girls High School), Abia State, as they were sensitised on dangers of drugs.

The programme was part of Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria’s (HURIWA) anti-hard drugs campaign, tagged: “Say No to Drugs Campaign Goes to Ghetto Communities”.

The campaign involved interactive sessions with students as well as questions and answers, as regards to drugs and their effects.

HURIWA’s representative South East, Miss Obilor Gracecliffs Ebubechukwu, described the campaign as a welcome development in the South East because of the prevalent drug use in the zone.

She said the event gave the students a sense of belonging as well as room to voice out their fears, unlearn many things and boost their self esteem.

According to her, the interactive session with the students was the major highlight as most of them asked different questions as regards to drugs and effects.

She said: “When our team arrived at the school in Onitsha, we were properly received by their team of Vice Principals, they led us to their students who were already waiting for us.

“We kicked off the sensitisation with the introduction to drugs and what these drugs are. After that the students were taught what it means to abuse drugs, they were told the dangers associated with drugs and why it should not be taken by anyone, they were educated on ways to say ‘no to drugs’.

“A major intellectual material distributed to the young minds was a freshly written children’s book on dangers of hard drugs and how to promote and protect human rights.
“The second lecture was given to them on human rights and child rights, they paid close attention when their rights were being discussed.

“After a power pack session with these students, questions came from both the male and female students, they asked questions regarding the different ways drugs can be eradicated, they raised concerns after learning many things about their rights.
“On our visit to the school in Aba, Abia State, the students and their staff were happy to see us as they were eager to know the good news we brought for them.

“They expressed their views on how society sees drugs and their usage. They got a different knowledge about drug abuse. They asked for more of this campaign as it educates them and teaches them some of the things that they do not know as regards to drugs.

“The question and answer moment was a great time for the students in Aba, as they got new knowledge on human rights, child rights, drugs and its effects and various ways to eradicate drugs.”

One of the students at Great St Pauls International Secondary School, Angela Umeh, thanked the team for the training and called for more to equip them with adequate knowledge on drug-related issues.