Egbewole lauds Unilorin Drug Abuse, Control Club
By Tajudeen Babamale
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has commended the institution’s Drug Abuse, Control, and Counselling Club on its outstanding community service efforts, which, he said, have long-term benefits in combating drug abuse in Kwara State and Nigeria as a whole.
Prof. Egbewole gave the commendation last Monday (June 24, 2024) when he received members of the Club who were in his office to inform him of their activities and mission as a group.
The Vice Chancellor commended the group’s effort in fighting the menace of drug abuse, noting that the cankerworm has eaten deep into the Nigerian society and is seriously causing problems for individuals and the society. He urged the Club not to relent in its efforts at championing the noble cause until the momentum of this cankerworm is substantially checkmated.
While highlighting the club’s extensive outreach, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria appreciated its focus on community service beyond the University premises, particularly its initiatives targeting state secondary schools. He said, “I want to appreciate the fact that you are not limiting yourself to the University; you are extending community service to the state secondary schools to catch them young”.
The Vice Chancellor, however, urged the club to involve all Faculties and concerned research groups in the University to ensure a more enduring and sustainable approach to its advocacy. He also emphasised the importance of forming a partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to enhance the impact of the advocacy efforts. “I believe you are assisting them with their job to curb the menace of drug abuse, and I am sure they will be pleased with this initiative,” he remarked.
Addressing the broader context of the drug abuse crisis, Prof. Egbewole said, “The focus that you have put in place is not misplaced at all because if you look at the statistics and the challenges that society is facing because of drug abuse by certain individuals, your approach of control and counselling is laudable”.
Prof. Egbewole reaffirmed the University’s commitment to supporting the club’s initiatives, saying, “For us as a University, this initiative is something that we are willing to support as much as possible. It is an initiative that I believe the university should be championing. We are open to seeing how management can support this initiative.”
Speaking earlier, the Staff Adviser of the University Drug Abuse, Control, and Counselling Club and a lecturer in the Department of Public Law, Mr. Adeboye Seye Thompson, stressed the critical need for proactive measures against drug abuse.
He noted that “drug abuse is a menace that has affected almost all societies across the world, and Nigeria is not an exception”, vowing not to “sit around and wait till the menace becomes bigger than this before we nip it in the bud”. Mr Adeboye added, “That is why we, as staff and students of the University of Ilorin, decided to form a drug abuse club”.
Speaking further on the club’s efforts, which include engaging with secondary schools across Kwara State, the Staff Adviser said,”We have started working with secondary schools across Kwara State to instill what we believe should be prerequisite information on preventing drug abuse. By the time these students gain admission into higher institutions, their minds will be prepared to be advocates of drug abuse prevention”, he explained.
Also speaking, the President of the University of Ilorin Drug Abuse, Control, and Counselling Club, Mr Oyebanji Paul Olatoye, articulated the Club’s dual focus on education and counselling in order to combat the pervasive issue of drug abuse.
He said the Club is planning to establish a community whereby the University and its neighboring communities will be educated on the effects and menace of drug abuse, adding that, the club members are committed to not only focusing on prevention but also on counselling victims of drug abuse. He said they would be preventing new cases and supporting those who have already been affected.
Mr Olaoye, who is a student of the Faculty of Law, said currently, seven Faculties, including Social Sciences, Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Clinical Sciences, and Basic Medical Sciences, are actively involved in the Club’s initiatives. He, however, added that they are planning to extend membership to other Faculties.
The Vice Chancellor was joined to receive the Club members by the Deputy Vice Chancellor(Academic), Prof. Olubunmi Abayomi Omotesho; the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Suleiman Folorunsho Ambali; the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Technology and Innovation), Prof. Adegboyega Adisa Fawole; the Registrar, Mr Mansur Adeleke Alfanla; the University Librarian, Dr Kamaldeen Tunde Omopupa; and the Ag Bursar, Mr Oba Abdulbaqi.