The Government in Northern Nigerian state of Kano has set up an ad-hoc committee tasked to sensitise students in institutions of higher learning on the effects and dangers associated with drug abuse and other mental health related issues.
The Special Adviser on Health Matters, Dr. Fauziyya Buba, disclosed this at the closing ceremony of a one-day sensitisation meeting with guidance and counseling mentors from the state’s tertiary institutions on Friday November 18, 2022.
Buba, who doubles as the chairperson of the state Mental Health Action Committee and Female Anti-Drug Campaign Committee, said the meeting was convened to review recommendations made during the previous meeting.
She explained that during the first meeting with the guidance and counseling mentors, action points were given to them based on the activities stated, which led to the establishment of anti-drug abuse unit, as well as guidance and counseling clubs across the state tertiary institutions.
“Based on the meeting, most of the guidance and counseling mentors in various tertiary institutions in Kano have set up anti-drug and G& C clubs which are working and functioning, we have achieved a lot,” she said.
The Special Adviser noted that during the meeting, an ad hoc committee was set up to go around tertiary institutions, to sensitise lecturers, staff and students on their mental health, effects of drug abuse as well as social and spiritual well-being.
She stressed that the committee would commence activities at the end of November and charged the management of tertiary institutions, lecturers, other staff and students to give the committee the maximum cooperation to enable it to succeed in the fight against drug and substance abuse.
