Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) has intensified its grassroots campaign against drug and substance abuse, taking its monthly enlightenment exercise to Jigbale Market in Udu Local Government Area.
The exercise, coordinated by the Community Development and Public Enlightenment Department, is part of the Commission’s ongoing sensitisation drive across markets in its mandate areas.
It aims to raise public awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and promote preventive action among families and communities.
Leading the team was the Head of Community Development and Public Enlightenment, Mrs. Chinenye Ezonfade, who represented the Commission’s Executive Director, Social Services, Chief Favour Izoukumor.
In her presentation, Mrs. Odisu of the Public Enlightenment Unit decried the rising cases of drug abuse among young people, including pupils and students in primary and secondary schools.
She attributed the trend partly to poor parenting, stressing that “charity begins at home.” She urged parents to show greater commitment to their children’s upbringing and work together to curb the menace, warning that the ripple effects of drug abuse continue to destroy families and communities.
Also speaking, Mrs. Honeywell Eburajolo educated the traders—mostly women—on how to identify early signs of drug use among children and practical steps to intervene.
She cautioned mothers against being too engrossed in business to the detriment of their children’s welfare and peer influence.
The Udu Area Office Coordinator of DESOPADEC, Mr. Austin Kpomah, said the growing nuisance caused by some youths under the influence of drugs informed the Commission’s decision to intensify its enlightenment efforts at the grassroots level.
The interactive session featured engaging discussions, as market women asked questions and proposed community-based strategies for addressing the issue.
At the end of the programme, Mrs. Ezonfade presented gift items to some traders who stood out for their active participation during the campaign.
DESOPADEC reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the anti-drug campaign across markets and communities in Delta State’s oil-producing areas, with a vision to safeguard the future of young people and strengthen family values.
