The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.), has called on Nigerian youths to embrace skills acquisition and empowerment programmes as a sustainable solution to drug abuse and other social vices.
Marwa said equipping young people with practical skills and economic opportunities would significantly reduce their vulnerability to substance abuse, unemployment, and crime. He noted that youth empowerment initiatives align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises job creation, social inclusion, and economic development.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, Marwa made the remarks in Abuja while speaking as the special guest of honour at the launch of a youth empowerment and skills acquisition programme.
He explained that training and empowering 10,000 young Nigerians through practical skills development directly supports government efforts to tackle youth unemployment, poverty, drug abuse, and criminal activities.
Marwa described the programme as a blend of capacity building and character development, stressing that prevention remains the most effective approach to combating drug abuse and its devastating impact on society.
He emphasised that the fight against drug abuse in Nigeria cannot be handled by government alone, urging non-governmental organisations (NGOs), civil society groups, faith-based organisations, community leaders, and the private sector to invest in youth-focused empowerment and skills development programmes.
“Training and empowering 10,000 young Nigerians through practical skills acquisition is not just an NGO initiative; it is direct support for government policies aimed at reducing unemployment, poverty, drug abuse, and general crime. Initiatives like this deserve national recognition,” Marwa said.
He added, “What this organisation is doing today goes beyond charity. It is capacity building, character development, future protection, and drug abuse prevention for our youths and the larger society. The fight against drug abuse and related crimes is everybody’s responsibility.”
The NDLEA chairman also encouraged stakeholders to collaborate with the agency in designing and implementing programmes that provide young people with employable skills, dignity, and a sense of purpose.
Addressing participants at the event, Marwa urged Nigerian youths to see themselves as agents of positive change and to take advantage of opportunities that promote self-reliance and personal development, while staying away from drugs.
“You are not a problem to be managed; you are a solution to be empowered. Your talents, creativity, and resilience are critical to building a safer, stronger, and more prosperous Nigeria. Embrace opportunities like this, invest in yourselves, and stay away from drugs,” he said.
Nigeria continues to face growing challenges of youth unemployment and drug abuse, which authorities say contribute to rising crime and social instability. In response, the NDLEA and other stakeholders are intensifying the promotion of skills acquisition, vocational training, and youth empowerment programmes as preventive measures against substance abuse and other social vices.
