By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq has admonished students of tertiary institutions that are involved in cultism, drug abuse and other related social vices to retrace their steps .

AbdulRazaq warned that their continued involvement in such acts would lead them to uncertain future, regret and premature death.

This is just as the State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Alhaji Bashir Muhammad, said his agency is currently prosecuting no fewer than 15 drug barons across the country as part of it anti-drug abuse war.

The duo spoke on Tuesday in Ilorin at a stakeholders’ dialogue, themed “Stemming the Tide of Social Vices among Students: A Panacea for Positive Growth”, organised by the Office of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs, Hon Salami Wasiu.

Represented at the dialogue by the Commissioner for Education, Dr Mary Arinde, Governor AbdulRazaq urged those involved in the acts to muster the courage to retrace their steps so that the huge investment of their parents on them would not be in vain.

“Distinguished students and young people, this conversation is not about name-calling or shaming of anyone who may be involved in any of these social activities we have talked about. It is about giving you fresh perspectives and opening your eyes to the danger associated with these activities, and asking you to make good choices that will give you a head start and make you a valuable member of our community.

“Cultism, cyber crime, drug abuse, and sexual abuse, among others, set you up for uncertain future of regrets, stigmatization, premature death, and inability to attain your dreams.

“I am pleading that you do not engage in any of it for the sake of your future. Your parents have made huge investments to make you a successful person. The way to pay them back is to shun any activities, associations, and affiliations that will make them cry.

“You mean a lot to us. The future of this country is tied to how you all turn out to be. It is not too late to make the right choice. Please do not let us down”, the Governor admonished.

For his part, Muhammad said the state’s command of the agency is developing a curriculum in collaboration with relevant authorities for schools to curb abuses.

In her keynote address, a professor of Guidance and Counselling with the University of Ilorin, Mary Fajonyomi berated parents for poor upbringing of their children, calling them to return to inculcate in them the moral values for which Nigerians were known for.

“The truth is that something is wrong with the manner in which we raise and bring up our children. The home is sick, very very sick. We need to really go back to the basic”, she said.