The high prevalence of psychoactive substance use among the youths and middle aged people in Nigeria have been blamed on social factors, which include peer group influence, unhealthy family background such as illegitimate relationships, toxic relationships within and outside the marriage institution, broken homes, alcoholic parents or involvement of the parent in anti-social and illegal activities, loss of job, low self esteem and lack of good mentorship.
Ahead of the first anniversary of the Alimosho Professionals, its National Chairman, Carlo Babatunde Sonupe; and chairman of the Diaspora chapter, Solomon Bakare said that the factors influenced the community group which believes in the communal strength and power decided to take up the war as part of its commitment to make the society a better place.
The anniversary holds on 28th April under the theme, “Alimosho Against Drug Abuse”.
Sonupe and Bakare expressed their concern on the rate at which the young and old now get involved in the use of illicit drug.
Sonupe said that it is worrisome to know that the youths are involved in a lot of illicit activities, adding that the drug aspect of the habit is so scary that he foresees an epidemic in a few years from now.
The National Chairman added that it was important for every adult in Alimosho to see every other child as his or hers and correct the young one in love.
He quoted the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo who once said: ” If you don’t train other people’s children, those children you failed to train will come back to train your own children”. He noted that these negative trainings may range from drug abuse to cultism, prostitution, internet fraud amongst other vices.
Bakare noted that Alimosho has a strong and powerful bond that must be utilised to fight the battle and ensure that the community is not turned into a slum where drug addicts and prostitutes thrive.
He said: “There are so many great people that have risen from Alimosho, so many of them still live within Alimosho”. This is a clarion call on all and sundry to wake up and join our group to ensure that Alimosho is used as a positive example of what a good community should be”.
Convener of the group, Olori Anike Oluwabukunolami said that growing up in Alimosho was fun because every parent was your parent, so you could be scolded by anybody which is not so any more because of fear and lack of love.
She said that the families knew each other, and the children were scared of getting into wrong relationships, groups or activities.
She said it is sad to note that Alimosho ranks high in the use of drugs amongst the youth, both boys and girls.
“Our main aim is to make Alimosho a prototype of what a good community should be.
“We know that it is not an easy task but we believe in love and we are relying on the bond that we grew up with in this very large community to get it right and make our community great again” she said.
The group’s first year anniversary is expected to host dignitaries from within and outside the community.
Activities slated for the event included an awareness walk and an inaugural lecture by seasoned professionals on the issue of drug abuse.
