Yesterday, February 8, 2025, the Zero Tolerance for Social Immoralities Initiative (ZETSI Africa) held its first annual convention at the NBA Conference Hall, State High Court, Ilorin. Themed “Harmony in the Heartland: Promoting Peace and Rejecting Cultism and Drug Abuse in Kwara State”, the event brought together stakeholders, government officials, and students to tackle the growing menace of cultism and drug abuse among youths.
The program featured a keynote lecture, an inter-school debate competition, fireside chats, panel discussions, and prize and award presentations.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the occasion emphasized the need for a collective effort in addressing the challenges of drug abuse and cultism. “We cannot afford to fold our arms while our youth, the very future of this state, fall victim to these destructive vices,” he stated. “It is our duty to equip them with the knowledge and discipline needed to make the right choices.”
A major highlight of the event was an inter-school debate competition, where secondary school students passionately discussed the topic “Drug Abuse and Its Effects.” Their arguments were thought-provoking, demonstrating a deep understanding of how drug use destroys potential, derails futures, and fuels societal decay. The students urged their peers to reject harmful substances, emphasizing the long-term consequences of drug abuse.
Delivering the keynote lecture, Professor Olubukola Christianah Dada, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) of Kwara State University, Malete, representing Vice Chancellor Professor Sheikh Lukman Jimoh, highlighted the critical role of educational institutions in shielding students from the dangers of cultism and substance abuse. She emphasized that schools must not only impart knowledge but also serve as safe havens against these social vices.
