By Esther Akaa
The Novel Association for Youth Advocacy (NAYA), has commenced a sensitisation programme against drugs and substance abuse amongst young persons in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
In a telephone interview with The Voice, NAYA Co-ordinator in FCT, Abdulmalik Balogun said the sensitisation was a youth health programme under the “Step-Up Grant Reinforcing Education with Technology and Recreation to Discourage Drug-Use” (RETARD Drug-Use) in the country.
According to him, the programme is aimed at reducing new drug intake and continued use among youths in FCT, noting that NAYA was conducting sessions of in-person training for the FCT youth within its youth centres.
He explained that the RETARD Drug-use was a 12-month youth-driven drug education and prevention project being implemented by the NAYA with funding from AstraZeneca, Young Health Programme.
“The trainings are interspaced with recreational sports and games to retain interest, promote positive interactions and facilitate the learning process of participants,” he said.
Balogun further revealed that the project developed a 5-module Drug Education and Prevention (DE&P) electronic course to enable young persons utilise their mobile phones to access information on drug-related topics.
He pointed out that the e-course was launched on June 23 this year with representation from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, revealing that the electronic course currently has over 2000 users, who have been certified as RETARD Drug Advocate (RDA) with more numbers still counting.