The Adorable Foundation International (AFI), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has announced that it will launch a school-to-school campaign in Anambra State to educate kids on the dangers of drug abuse.
The organization’s founder, Princess Ada Amam, announced this during a press conference in Awka yesterday to unveil the group’s beauty contest, which will take place on Wednesday to commemorate International Drug-Free Day.
She said: “We are here to introduce to you the Queen of ASACADA beauty pageant, which is a brain child of AFI. ASACADA means A Societal Awareness Campaign Against Drug Abuse.
“We noticed that drug abuse among young people is on the rise, and this is not limited to males only, but females too. The goal is to fight drug abuse using the youths who are those mostly involved.
“The pageant will come up on Wednesday and one of the many contestants will be crowned as Queen of ASACADA, and the winner will move from school to school to sensitize students on the dangers of drug abuse.”
According to Amam, the group was established in 2017 by like-minded individuals who wanted to assist drug agencies such as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in sensitising youths against the use of illicit drugs.
Mr. Ken Okoli, President of Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU) youth branch, welcomed the idea as praiseworthy, promising to join in campaigning against drug abuse in all areas and emphasising the need of young participation in the campaign.
He said: “Peer group pressure is the biggest influence in drug abuse. We must let our youths know that drug can take their vision and mission in life.
“Drug abuse has caused a lot and the bad thing is that the ladies are more in number in the drug abuse these days.
“The wife of the governor of Anambra State, Mrs. Nonye Soludo, is an advocate of healthy living and campaigns against drug Abuse.
“I promise to facilitate a meeting between this group and the next Queen of ASACADA, so that you can receive the support you need to be able to carry out the campaign against drug abuse in your school-to-school campaign exercise.”