The Kwara State Government has launched a new partnership with the United Nations Office on Drug Control (UNODC) to equip principals and teachers in selected schools with the skills to tackle drug abuse among students. The initiative focuses on both primary and secondary schools across the state.
According to Mediaplusng.com, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq explained that the workshop, held under the UNODC Unplugged Teachers Training, was designed to secure maximum support from teachers at all levels, especially at the grassroots. He stressed that the rising trend of drug abuse among schoolchildren requires urgent and collective action.
Speaking during the technical session, UNODC trainer Maria Ilugbuhi said 30 teachers were selected for the first phase of the programme. They will be trained on 12 modules of the “Unplugged” curriculum, which covers life skills such as decision-making, relationship management, knowledge building, and social interaction. The goal, she noted, is to empower teachers to pass these lessons on to their students.
In a message delivered by his Special Adviser and Counsellor, Saadu Salahu, Governor AbdulRazaq commended stakeholders for their commitment to a drug-free society. Mediaplusng.com reports that the governor reiterated his administration’s zero-tolerance policy for drug abuse, noting that newly recruited teachers in the state were recently subjected to mandatory drug tests, with appointment letters withdrawn from those who failed.
The Kwara government says it remains committed to strengthening schools, teachers, and communities in order to safeguard young people from the dangers of drug abuse while preparing them to become responsible future leaders.
