The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has warned children and young people against experimenting with drugs, saying substance abuse can derail their education, careers and future.

Chief Superintendent of Narcotics, NDLEA Alimosho Command, Fatima Dauda Abdullahi, gave the warning during a three-day Children’s Boot Camp organised by the Beyond Borders Foundation at Isheri-Olofin Hall.

The programme, themed “Protected, Purposeful, Prepared,” brought together 300 children for learning, recreation and skills development.

Addressing the participants, Abdullahi said drug addiction often begins with experimentation and can have serious physical, psychological and social consequences.

“Shun drug abuse. Drug abuse can kill your career and destroy your dreams,” she said, warning that prolonged drug use could damage vital organs, including the liver and kidneys.

She also cautioned the children against accepting food or drinks from strangers, noting that harmful substances could be secretly introduced into them.

The NDLEA officer further appealed to drug dealers to keep away from young people.

“Leave our youth alone. The youth are the future of this generation,” she said.

Also speaking, the Social Welfare Officer, Ogun State Ministry of Women Affairs and Children’s Development, Folusho Adeola, stressed the importance of early sensitisation to prevent social vices, including cultism, exploitation and trafficking.

Adeola urged the children to remain focused on their education and avoid behaviours that could jeopardise their future.

The Convener and Executive Director of Beyond Borders Foundation, Temitope Akinrotimi, said the boot camp was designed to equip children with knowledge about their rights, personal boundaries and safety.

She said the initiative also offered training in technology, cooking, catering, graphic design and entrepreneurship.

Akinrotimi stressed that raising children was a collective responsibility. “It takes a community to raise a child. The work of raising children is not for parents alone,” she said.

The Monitoring and Evaluation Officer and Assistant Executive Director, Gender Development Initiative, Omolola Olumide Aina, spoke on the “push and pull factors” that expose young people to trafficking and exploitation.

She identified poverty as one of the strongest push factors, explaining that economic hardship could make young people vulnerable to false promises of opportunities abroad.

Aina also highlighted modern pull factors, particularly online scams and cybercrime, saying traffickers increasingly use social media platforms such as TikTok to lure unsuspecting victims with fake job offers, scholarships and romantic relationships.

She urged the children to be cautious about online adverts and unsolicited offers and to conduct proper research before accepting opportunities.

“We didn’t say they should not go. They should do proper research. Someone cannot tell me now that I want to travel to Kenya and I won’t need my passport. Some tangible things are necessary,” she said.

Aina advised young people to carefully verify links and documents, noting that tools were available to help detect fake websites.

The maiden edition of the boot camp, supported by Providus Bank, Nestlé, the Ogun State Government, Rite Foods and Lasena Water, featured sessions on drug abuse prevention, child protection, financial literacy, anti-bullying and online safety.

The organisers said the programme was aimed at raising a generation of children who are protected, purposeful and prepared to make responsible decisions and contribute positively to society.