IMO TO PARTNER WITH US-BASED NGO TO ERRADICATE DRUG ABUSE AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN

Imo State government has resolved to partner with an American-based non-governmental organization known as Drug Abuse Resistance Education [DARE] in the fight against drug abuse and crime among young school children.

Speaking when the DARE ambassadors led by Sefuluai Hollimon paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Owerri, yesterday, Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha said with much priority attached to education, his administration would partner with the group mostly in training programmes to ensure a good moral upbringing of young school children in the State.

He said “it is indeed a good opportunity for us to partner in training and retraining programmes.  The best option is for your organization to liaise with Imo College of Advanced Professional Studies [ICAPS] to retrain our teachers and possibly build this programme into our curriculum”. Governor Okorocha explained that his administration has given much priority to the education sector through its free and compulsory education and other interventionary programmes to secure a brighter future for young school children. He also reiterated the commitment of his administration to continue to partner with relevant stakeholders and groups towards promoting a good governance and speedy development of the State.

Speaking earlier, the DARE Ambassador Sefuluai Hollimon stated that the programme is ongoing in 43 countries of the world with none in Africa. She said that about 20 million children and youths worldwide are trained annually with the skills needed to overcome peer pressure, involvement in drugs, alcohol, crime, violence and cultism. She explained that the choice of Imo State is premised on Governor
Okorocha’s openness and pragmatic disposition towards grassroots development.