The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has cautioned secondary school students in Cross River State against engaging in drug abuse, cultism, and negative peer influence, warning that such vices could destroy their future and derail their dreams.
Speaking at the flag-off of the Southern Senatorial District Secondary Schools Educational Orientation Summit in Calabar, Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics, Mr. Okon E. Eyo, described drug misuse as a major factor that hinders focus and academic success.
“Do not allow anyone to deceive you into taking drugs,” he said. “Drugs make you useless. You don’t need drugs to become a doctor, lawyer, engineer, journalist, or anything you want to be. Stay focused if you must succeed in life.”
The summit, themed “Focus to Finish: Turning Distraction into Determination,” also featured a presentation by Pastor Kenneth B. Akpet, who urged students to develop discipline and use social media responsibly. According to him, uncontrolled use of social platforms often leads to distractions that prevent young people from achieving their goals.
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“Social media scatters your attention when not managed. Success is not achieved by mere wishes but through deliberate effort and consistent focus,” Akpet advised.
Governor Bassey Otu, represented by his Special Assistant on Students’ Orientation, Comrade Afufu Anthony Ogar-Ogabor, commended the initiative as a proactive step to tackle moral decline among young people. He noted that the campaign was part of the state’s broader effort to promote positive values and protect students from social vices.
“Our students are champions, leaders of today, tomorrow, and the future. They must remain focused on their dreams and strive to become assets to their families and society,” the governor said.
Governor Otu also called for similar orientation programmes to be extended to all secondary schools across the state, stressing that early intervention is key to shaping responsible and successful citizens.
