Nigerian graduates opt for drug trafficking as alternative for job

 By Emeka Ibemere

The all time high unemployment rate in the country may have given a leey way for many Nigerian graduates to fix themselves with something-drug trafficking.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the rate of unemployment in Nigeria stood at 23.9 per cent in 2011, while urban unemployment was estimated at 29.5 per cent in 2013.

According to The Financial Derivatives Company Limited (FDC), a Lagos-based financial advisory firm, the rate of unemployment in the country was expected to increase higher by about two per cent in 2014.

And with the FDC report which also forecast that the misery index was expected to increase further in 2014, from the 38 per cent it stood in 2013. Agency further reports that the Nigeria’s currency are likely going to nosedived by about three per cent in 2014, with hope that there may be light at the end of the tunnel through the stock market.

With the hopeless situation in the labour market and with the dwindling infrastructure and epileptic power supply which has led many companies to close shop and stopped job recruitment, Nigeria youths, including graduates and under-graduates have taken to drug trafficking business as an alternative for job.

Last week, during an interrogation with a suspected drug trafficker arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA, at the National Aviation Handling Company, NAHCO, a graduate drug trafficker with a degree in Business Administration, claimed that unemployment led him into the trade.

 Ifeanacho Somadina Victor was arrested with 2.185kg of substances that tested positive for methamphetamine.

The seizure was made at the departure hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, and Lagos State. He was to board an Ethiopian Airline flight to Malaysia when the drug was detected in his bag.

 “I am a graduate of Business Administration but have been jobless since I graduated in 2008. After several years of joblessness, I became a commercial bus driver in Lagos. I am single and live in Badagry”, Somadina Victor claimed.

“A man I met at a hotel promised to assist me in getting a job in Malaysia. I was happy to travel out of the country even with drugs out of frustration but I was arrested in the process. They promised to pay me 3,500 dollars but I regret everything now because I feel empty inside”. The suspect said he smuggled the drugs out of frustration. He hails from Enugu state.

But NDLEA commander at the airport, Mr. Hamza Umar said that the suspect was found in possession with the illicit substance. According to Hamza, “we have arrested one Ifeanacho Somadina Victor. He had parcels of substances that tested positive for methamphetamine. The case is under investigation”.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade described the arrest of Ifeanacho Somadina Victor as disappointing. Read what he said. “It is very disappointing for a University graduate who knows the implication of his actions to get involved in drug trafficking. Besides, he was taking the drug to Malaysia where he would have been executed, if caught with narcotics. I am happy with the arrest and I call on members of the public to support the Agency in the eradication of illicit drugs,” Giade stated.

The suspect was to be charged to court after investigation. If you think, Victor was the only graduate arrested recently, and then read another graduate story.

The officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted one hundred and seven (107) faked Citi Bank credit cards.

The Automated Teller Machine cards were detected inside a luggage during the outward screening of Turkish Airline passengers to Istanbul, Turkey at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

A 36 year-old man who has a double identity was apprehended in connection with the illegal possession of the cards. NDLEA Airport commander, Mr Hamza Umar said that the suspect had two international passports bearing his photographs but with different names.

“He had a Nigerian passport with the name Funsho Oladimeji Babatunde and a Turkish passport with the name Kosar Kursat both bearing his photographs. The cards found in his luggage are 68 Citi Interswitch Master Cards and 39 Citi Interswitch Visa cards,” Hamza stated.

The suspect, who claimed to have come from Iwo town in Kwara State, also stated that he lives in Surulere Lagos area of Lagos State. According to NDLEA’s investigation, the suspect claimed to be a graduate of Kwara Polytechnic and has an Ordinary National Diploma (OND), certificate holder.

In his statement, he told investigators that he was taking the cards to a friend in Turkey.

 “My friend in Turkey called me that I should help in sending the cards to him in Istanbul, Turkey. When I collected the cards in Lagos, I kept them in my bag but during search, the officer saw the cards and took me for interrogation. I am an OND graduate at the Kwara Polytechnic,” he stated.

 Another twenty year-old undergraduate was arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos for importing 1.745 kilogrammes of dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis popularly called hemp was found in possession of the drug during the inward screening of passengers on an Africa World Airlines flight from Accra, Ghana.

NDLEA Lagos Airport commander, Mr Hamza Umar said that the drug was detected during routine screening of passengers.

“An undergraduate student was found in possession of two parcels of cannabis weighing 1.745kg during routine search of passengers. The drug was hidden inside his bag containing personal effects. He was immediately arrested and the case is under investigation,” Hamza stated.

The suspect who reportedly gained admission into the faculty of Management Sciences at the Regent University is currently assisting narcotic investigators assigned to the case. In his confessional statement, Udiomeh Kufre Ita said that he used his tuition fees in purchasing the drug found on him.

 “I spent my school fees on cell phone, smoking hemp and attending night clubs. I bought a cell phone for 107,000 naira and spent my school fees recklessly. I thought I could make enough profit from the sale of cannabis to offset the deficit in my tuition. I bought each parcel of hemp for 220 Ghana cedi. I did not know what came over me and I am afraid to go to my parents. My father is a retiree” the suspect stated. He hails from Akwa-Ibom State but grew up in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

Ahmadu Giade described the action of the student as shameful and sad. In his words, “this is very shameful and sad. It shows that the suspect is morally bankrupt. Students must understand that drug use is inimical to the pursuit of their academic goals,” Giade stated.

The NDLEA boss called on members of the public to avoid drug use and support the fight against drugs. “Abstinence from drug use is the best solution but those who have problem with drug use should please seek professional help before it is too late. Let us support the anti-drug campaign for a peaceful and fulfilled life” Giade added.

Police DAILY PRESS BULLETIN

(1)  ARREST OF SUSPECTED ARMED ROBBERS/RECOVERY OF ARM AND AMMUNITION:-On 24/7/2014 at about 0140hrs, policemen attached to Alakara Division while on stop and search duty at Olosa area arrested four men namely Afeez Oyebanji ‘m’ Abbass Lasisi ‘m’, Wasiu Salami ‘m’ and Ottohor Benson ‘m’ in a Toyota Camry S/Car with Reg. No. EPE 685 CD. One locally made pistol and one live cartridge were recovered from the hoodlums.  The case is under investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department Yaba.

 

(2)  ARREST OF ARMED ROBBER/RECOVERY OF ARM AND AMMUNITION/SNATCHED VEHICLE:-On 24/7/2014 at about, 1045hrs policemen attached to Isheri Division while on patrol along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway arrested four suspects namely Victory Anoechi Chimayan ‘m’, George Onyemachi Equanumhu ‘m’, Oyebisi Afeez ‘m’ and Chidinma Onwe ‘f’ all of no fixed address with a Toyota Camry car with reg. No. LSD 568 CZ at Berger area. Items recovered from the suspects are:- one locally made pistol with one live cartridge, one laptop, one Ipad, eight telephone handsets, seven wrist watches, cash sum of  about Eighty-Six thousand seven hundred and eighty-five Naira (#86,785.00) one Navy cap, one flash drive, six necklaces, four rings, one Ecowas passport, two travelling bags and weeds suspected to be cannabis sativa . The case is under investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department Yaba.

 

(3)  ARREST OF SUSPECTED ARMED ROBBER/RECOVERY OF SNATCHED VEHICLE: - On 24/7/2014 at about 1030hrs, Policemen attached to Ejigbo Division acted on a tip-off at Mosalasi area of Ejigbo and arrested one Obieze Asumba ‘m’ aged 21 years old with a Hyundai S/Car displayed for sale. The suspect had changed the colour of the vehicle and removed the plate number for easy sale. The case is under investigation at Ejigbo Division.

 

(4)  ARREST OF SUSPECTED ROBBERS: - On 23/7/2014 at about 0430hrs, two suspected armed  robbers namely:- Evans Matthew ‘m’ of No.23, Mission Street Alafia Suru-Alaba and one Aliu Sanni ‘m’ of no fixed address were rescued from angry mob and re-arrested by policemen attached to Festac Division. The suspects attempted to rob Big Treat Supermarket located along First Avenue Festac Town and are now responding to treatment in a nearby hospital. The case is under investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department Yaba.

 

 

 

 NGOZI C. BRAIDE DSP.

POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,

                   LAGOS STATE COMMAND,

                  IKEJA.

Touching Lives, an Airtel initiative to better life

OKEY OBIOZO

It was in a convivial atmosphere that Bharti Airtel Communications Limited decided to launch their latest corporate social responsible programme that is targeted at the under privileged members of the society who are faced with daunting challenges in life.

The idea is initiated purposely as a medium for the communication giant to re-invest into the society where they have been able to do their businesses and further recouped on their investment.

So for this purpose, they have come up with an initiative to put smile on someone face and make dreams come through. Their aim is to aid the members of the society who will be able to benefit from them through assistance and developmental projects that will be wholly sponsored by them.

Therefore, the initiative was presented to the public on Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos State.

The event attracted dignitaries and members of the press who had to be part of the programme as it is people oriented and it is therefore seen as a progressive venture that is out to better the lives of the masses regardless of whether the recipient is hooked on their network.

Leading the train of the dignitaries is Airtel Chief Executive Officer, Segun Ogunsanya, Mr Sperrow, the programme manager, The Lagos State governor, represented by Oluranti Oguntola, First lady of Lagos State, represented by Mrs Azizat Tijani, Muiz Banire, Legal practitioner and former commissioner of information, Lagos State and  Airtel Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Emeka Opara.

According to Airtel CEO, the project is an initiative that Airtel Nigeria warms up to start because it is created out of genuine desire to build an equitable society and that Airtel has been recorded to be doing so much in different areas where government cannot reach.

Therefore, the telecommunication giant is a partner in progress with the government in improving the lives of the masses who are daily touched by their incisive projects around the federation.

Meanwhile, he revealed that the programme has been in place in other parts of Africa where Airtel is presently doing business. The concept when it takes off in Nigeria will go to different parts of the country to meet individuals and communities that really needs help and be able to touch their lives and make their dreams come through.

Stressing however that the entry procedure is just to tell the story of someone or community that is going through any form of challenges in 1000 words and send the sms to 949. It will be vetoed by a team of independent organisation that will visit each of the entrants to ascertain the genuineness of their stories.

He cited the progress of Airtel rising stars football initiative, another of their project, where he categorically informed that the programmes was able to discover Olu Gabriel and so many other football stars that have don the nation’s flag in different junior and intermediate categories.

Responding however, the representative of Lagos state governor said that it is a welcome development for service providers to be remembering the people in the unique ways they do.

She categorised the programme as a wonderful initiative that need to motivate other companies whose business environment is in Nigeria to do more because helping others is the only way to get fulfilment and makes us humans in Nigeria.

“If all of us will have the conscience to impart on the society and make anywhere we find ourselves better than how we met it, because if we don’t the creator who brought us here will someday ask us what we have done with the talent, money and opportunities that we have.

“Congratulations to Airtel.” she pointed.

Muiz Banire while congratulating Airtel for the concept reiterated that as you touches others lives you touch your life too. He said that except we start touching the lives of the under trodden, many will never find sleep.

“A care for our neighbour and the less privileged is important so that at the end of the day, we will be able to sleep.”

As Airtel has positioned itself in touching the lives of the people as a mandate, member of the public have been encouraged to exploit the opportunity of the programme to convince people to undertake and participate in the initiative.

Malala visit: Group berates Ezekwesili

Emeka Ibemere

A social- cultural organization

in Lagos State, has berated the former Minister of Education and Solid Mineral Dr. Oby Ezekwesili over her action in stopping the parents of the Chibok girls from seeing Mr President.

The Group, Eastern Union, EU, frowned at the wisdom of educated former Minister in preventing the grieved parents from having a chat with the President.

The Group in their assessment of the action of Ezekwesili said the action is inimical to the progress the government was making in rescuing the abducted girls.

According to Honourable Charles Anike, the Group National President, Ezekwesili by her action, seems to validate the suspicion of majority of Nigerians about the missing girls.

The Group also said if Ezekwesili was still working with the World Bank and still goes ahead to be tackling the President of Nigeria and the government policies, that it’s wrong. 

Anike stated that the actions of Ezekwesili could be mistaken by majority of uninformed Nigerians, that her actions were that of the World Bank opinion she was expressing, adding that the world organization should call her to order, if she was still the staff of the World Bank.

“Eastern Union condemns in strong terms the actions credited to Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili and her #BringBackOurGirls group. For preventing the parents of kidnapped Chibouk girls from meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan during the visit of Malala, the young Pakistanian activist and social crusader is wrong”, Anike state in a telephone chat.

“Such actions are a clear indication that some respected individuals are the real enemies of our progress. To this end, Nigerians are advised to begin to identify and number their enemies, no matter how they pretend and package their claims”.

Speaking further, he said that Mrs Ezekwesili has always found fault in every efforts of the present government. And that it was very unfortunate because it confirmed the general opinion expressed by some people, that most people who wants to remain relevant in the corridors of power are not always happy each time they lose such relevance.

“Once they are not in any government, they won’t see anything good or try to support such government. Many of such people in the recent time pretend to be human right crusaders”, Anike stated.

“What we are trying to point out is that, like Ezekwesili once they feel sidelined or if they are not among the key policy makers, they become antagonistic to the government and constitute themselves overnight- social crusaders and human right activists. Its time we begin to expose these people so they don’t continue to deceive Nigerians and the world that may mistake their real mission. Some are always coming out to play the scripts of their pay masters”.

The Group’s President disclosed that the former Minister has no reason whatsoever to misguide the parents of the kidnapped girls.

“She should not try to cry more than the bereaved or claim to be more concerned than the President and other Nigerians in struggle to rescue the chibok kidnapped girls and also end the insurgents”.

Last week, it would also be recalled that #BringBackOurGirls campaign led Dr. Oby Ezekwesili to the Senate President, Senator David Mark, raised dust and nearly turned to national disgrace. The Senate President had accused the Group of not telling them anything tangible about the rescue of the girls.

 During her presentation, Dr. Ezekwesili expressed anger and frustration over the manner the Federal Government handled the abduction of the over 238 girls of government secondary school Chibok, in Borno State by the Boko Haram goons, claiming that in other countries, it would not take few days for the government to embark on the rescue operation of the girls.

Ezekwesili said they came to meet the Senate President to ask him to help in giving them information as they were in solidarity with the girls, adding that there had not been any information on the efforts of government towards rescuing the girls to them.

According to Ezekwesili, her Group had faced harassment and intimidation in the hands of the government agents adding that her organization was on a genuine agitation. She equally stated that their effort to get into the National Assembly was a difficult one alleging that they were stopped and thoroughly screened by the security agents at the gate.

According to the former Minister, the team were not on a jamboree campaign because they were jobless but that they were touched by the predicament of the girls as mothers, adding that the biggest problem of her group was their fear that the girls could be forgotten like other things that happen in the country on daily basis.

Senator Mark told the group that the federal government had made frantic efforts towards ensuring that the abducted girls were released and that it was the government determination to see that the girls regained their freedom that made it to bring countries with experiences to help in the search of the girls.

The veteran soldier-politician said that at war time, all war resources are brought together to fight and that the government cannot fight terrorism successfully without information by the people.

He told the group not to work at cross purposes with the government and urged various campaign groups working for the release of the abducted to collaborate with all relevant government agencies for their eventual release.

He said, “I am not sure any Nigerian with blood flowing in his vein will be indifference to the plight of the Chibok girls. Government has not ruled out any option in the quest to free our girls. Let us be on the same wave length and free the girls alive. “The case of the Chibok girls is a sad commentary.  Nobody anticipated this ugly trend. We are all under stress locally and internationally. The situation does not call on anybody to grand stand. All hands must be on deck to rescue the girls.”

While thanking the initiative of the group led by Dr. Ezekwesili and Mariam Uwais, Mark reminded them that Boko Haram had declared war on Nigeria, a situation he said that required diplomacy and purposeful move towards ending the insurgency.

“We must do everything humanly possible to rescue the girls alive, end insurgency and terrorism in the land.  What is important to all of us is to work hard to bring our girls alive. Nobody should politicize this. Lives are involved and we are all fathers and mothers here. It is better imagined than witness.”

Speaking further, Mark also observed with apprehension, the conditions of the girls wherever they are and stated that nobody should put a time line on the release of the children, stating further that things have to be followed cordially, “We don’t want the children to be released in a manner they can’t come back. “My appeal to you is to adjust not to be seen as working at cross purposes with government. I don’t think any group should play politics with it. Our girls are suffering, whatever we can do to bring the girls back, and we will do it.”

Perhaps not satisfied with the Senate President’s appeal, Ezekwesili said that they were embarking on the agitation not personal issues other than the Chibok girls.

“We talk with almost with anger because of conflicting reports we are getting,” Dr. Ezekwesili said.

She said her group was worried on why it took the federal government such a long time before action could be taken on how to rescue the girls.

Ezekwesili also stated that her #BringBackOurGirls wanted a united front against the common enemy and a result from the rescue operation, adding thus, “this group is a group for the citizens and a group for Chibok girls. “You haven’t given us a very tangible response we can hold unto. I hope when we come back, we will have a tangible response.”

Irked by this comment, Senator Mark thundered, “I am sure you weren’t expecting me to tell you the girls are going to be rescued tomorrow. Let us not reduce it to what the people discus in classroom. “The point I am trying to make is that we should be at the same wave length, government is doing whatever they can, I don’t know the tangible answer you want, and you have not received. I am not in any dialogue with any member of Boko Haram. I am not a party to anybody rolling out option.”

Parents contributes to drug abuse of their wards--Ighodalo

Wilson Ighodalo is not a new face in drug advocacy campaign. In the last 11 years, he has been able to raise an organisation to fight drug abuse and trafficking in Nigeria but not with the conventional arrest and prosecution of offenders of the law against drug trafficking. The Edo State born International advertiser, President/Founder, of Drug Salvation Foundation and media consultant based in Abuja, Lagos, and Ghana has soft spot for the Nigerian youths and has invested much to liberate them from the shackles of drug menace through advocacy campaigns and intellectual conferences. In this interview with EMEKA IBEMERE, the former Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, a businessman and entrepreneur, a brand consultant, and a registered member of advertising Council of Nigeria blamed some parents in the drug life of their children. He also spoke on what motivated him into drug advocacy. ...excerpts

What motivated you to go into drug war by forming an NGO, that helps in fighting drug trafficking and abuse?

It actually started in 2003, because every day I watch television, I discovered that the agency was only talking about arrest and seizures, prosecution, and growing up, I saw that a lot of people are into drug and it has destroyed a lot of them, some of them dropped out of school, some died at their prime age due to drug related problems, I discovered and was motivated by the fact  that youths who takes drug were not doing well in their respective endeavours, some had financial set-backs, so I took it upon myself to come up with an idea which National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, bought into in 2003.

I told them that together, we can do something and that I’m into advertising world and that we can team up and fight the scourge of drug abuse and trafficking. So, they see my idea as an idea that they can buy into, so they set up PSP, which is Private Sector Partnership Initiative; but really what I was actually going for was business, so I was going into NDLEA as a media consultant with them and I was actually signed on board as their media consultant and we started working together; we started doing some programme and creating media awareness, creating billboards for them just to put them into advocacy, education and publicity. So, that was how we started.

How were you able to get NDLEA’s endorsement to partner with them?

So, it has been good. We have been able to take the fight to the next level, because along the line, I delved into drug research, abuse and other things, I started discovering that it was actually beyond what I expected it to be from the beginning and I approached my Cousin and he said, I better come up with an NGO, and that was how I set up an NGO. So when I was looking for a name, God gave me a wonderful name; Drug Salvation Foundation (DSF), and I CAME BACK TO NDLEA and told them that I have registered an NGO, and they gave me accreditation just because I have been working with them. So it was easily accredited because they came to my office to probe me and they told me the criteria I must meet to earn their accreditation and as God would have it I was able to meet their conditions, because they saw the resources and other things I must have, so that was how NDLEA gave me accreditation and since then, we have been working together.

In the last 11 years, you have been partnering with the NDLEA in advocacy project, how has it been?   

We have gone far and by the grace of God, we have done well. Again, know that we cannot do it alone. We need a lot of support from NDLEA itself. We have gone to schools to talk about drugs. We have established Drug- Free- Clubs in Schools in Nigeria. Where ever you see NDLEA commands in any state, we are there. What we added recently was the establishment of the Club in all the schools in Delta State which was supported by the First Lady of Delta State, Uduaghan. We have been organizing seminars, conferences; talk shops, where we talk drugs and its harmful effect in Lagos and outside Lagos cities. So that is how far we have gone with the advocacy project.

Having gone far in drug research, what is the factor that causes drug abuse among youths?

If you talking about drug abuse alone, there are so many factors that led to drug abuse. Even parents at home contribute to drug abuse of their wards. They encourage their children into drug abuse. Why do I say so; when you are talking about drug abuse, it starts at home because they way you train your child that is how he or she will grow with it. if you start telling your children on time about the dangers and other societal menace of drug abuse, alcohol and even stealing, there is no way that child would not imbibe good virtues. Again, do you know some parents smoke before their kids and some even go as far as sending their wards to go and buy cigarettes or India hemps for them? And what do you think such a child will grow to become in future? Other factors are pressure group. Here, parents don’t monitor who their child goes out with and when they are in the midst of the bad ones, the pressure to resist what their age mate who is on the other side of life is doing would be difficult. They will pressure you to join them in taking drugs, which you are not their standard or class, telling you that if you don’t take the drug, you don’t belong to their class. These are toxic friends coming into a child’s life and at the end of the day, they will be telling you to do what you aren’t used to do and instead of them to say no to drugs, they got hooked. So that is what we are trying to tell our youths, to say: ‘NO TO DRUGS’! 

The basic thing we are trying to do now is how to reach them so that they can be able to ‘say no to drugs’. There are so many factors we have noticed recently while the youths are going into drugs. We have noticed that for them to belong to some clubs in schools now, they must initiate that child into taking drugs. This is taking place in the Universities and we have noticed it even in secondary schools of recent. This was our observation about their clandestine way of recruit other children into taking drugs.

What is the best policy to eradicate drugs? Is it taking the drugs away by cutting the supply or...?

When you take the drugs away, they will still go back to it. Cut the supply okay but what we are trying to do now with the NDLEA is not just to say no to drugs but making and creating other things to occupy their minds. We are talking of an idle mind, get involve in bad things. So we are trying so many other ways to occupy their minds with something else. We are trying to bring in celebrities so that they the youths could be inspired to be thinking of being like those celebrities, reaching where they are without drugs and being focused in life. We are trying to motivate them with the stars, who are role models to some of these young ones to emulate their no-drug-life and stop drug abuse. With the celebrities that we are bringing on board, they would be able remodel their living.

Why not use football stars, who you know that, have great followers all over the world to attract the youths in this type of advocacy, I mean stars like Jay-Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, Victor Ikpeba and others?

That is a very good suggestion but we cannot really focus on one sector like that. A lot of people have potential ideas to do great things. I came up with this idea of celebrity awareness campaign. On 22 May, we came up with the idea through the grace of God and before now, people’s perception of NDLEA was an unfriendly organization but myself, I saw them as open-minded organization that would like to work with the society but it’s because they don’t want to come closer because of its security outfit but getting closer to them, I discovered that they are very wonderful people and some have lost their life trying to combat drug menace and they need help. Coming to the football stars, what I just did first was to bring in celebrities and the ones we have, there are footballers among them.

 We Godwin Ohanana, he specializes in football and he is a member of Celebrities Free Club. We brought people from the media, entertainment, Nollywood, film industry, music, every sector that has to do with the youths into the project. Why we bring them was to allow them to have a reach out to these youths from different sector, background and class. The Drug Salvation Foundation, with Godwin Ohanana, is planning how to infuse football into our campaign.

Soon, we will be talking about ‘KICK-OUT- DRUGS’, which is coming on board. We intend to invite Jay-Jay Okocha into the advocacy who would inspire the youths and motivate them to ‘kick- out-drugs’ away in their life and be a responsible citizens of Nigeria. The message is that instead of drugs while not go into football, so we have a lot in our project.

You seem to have a very big vision but where are you getting your funding from?

I must be sincere with you, this is the most challenging aspect of this activities. It has been our biggest challenge. It has been funded by the trustees of the Drug Salvation Foundation. Everything we have been doing, our programmes, advocacy campaigns, school to school drug education and awareness, forming of the Drug Free Clubs in secondary schools and tertiary institutions, have been funded with the paltry funds coming from the trustees.

Pastor Itua Igadalo, who is the Chairman Board of Trustees and Mr Lawal, who is also representing Malta in Nigeria, these are the specific people that have been supporting all our programmes in Nigeria in the last 11 years. But we are looking reaching out to corporate organizations. And as a media consultant and advertiser, what I have been telling the corporate world is that it has gone beyond corporate social responsibility.

I have a meeting with one Managing Director and I told him that this has gone beyond corporate responsibility, that in branding, in media, we call it cost related and it means using your cost to sale your product, because as you are supporting us, you equally selling your brands and that people would be looking at your brand as a worthy brand.

 Imaging where telecom bought this project now, because this project is about youth and if at the end of the day, the youths keyed into your brand you could imagine the market audience that would associate with that brand. So that is what we have been telling some organizations to come in and support us. So basically, we have not received any donation from any corporate organization, any individual or association so far in the project.

Where do you intend to take this organization to?

Truly, we cannot say about tomorrow but tomorrow is great. So we have a plan of taking it globally because, when you talk about drug abuse and trafficking, it’s a global issue. So we are taking it beyond Nigeria and there is this programme that we want to carry out regarding this Substance Awareness Symbol, which we launched some time ago. We are going on World Toure very soon with the campaign. We want to take the campaign beyond Nigeria, telling the world that we have arrived to fight drug abuse and trafficking. Do you know that people are selling illicit drug on social media? So the thing has gone far and we want to follow the trend to spread our message of say no to drugs. It is drug traffickers that are fuelling drug addiction and abuse. Nigeria use to be a transit country before but now it has gone beyond transit to manufacturing and consumption country. But fund has being our challenges.