The First Lady of Cross River State, Her Excellency Bishop (Dr.) Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, has officially inaugurated the Cross River State Drug Control Committee in a collaborative effort with the State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The inauguration ceremony, which took place yesterday, established a multi-stakeholder body to combat drug abuse in the state.
The newly formed committee is chaired by the First Lady herself. The Honourable Commissioner for Education, Senator Professor Stephen Adi Odey, will serve as the Vice Chairman, while the State Commander of the NDLEA, CN Ogbonna Maurice, was formally inaugurated as the Secretary. Barr. Ukam Ijom was appointed as the Public Relations Officer.
The committee’s membership includes a diverse range of critical stakeholders, such as:
The State Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Comrade Emmanuel Olayi.
Commissioners for Women Affairs and Sports.
The Director-General of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency.
The President of the Medical Women Association.
Wives of Local Government Chairmen.
Student Union leaders.
Officials from the Nigerian Correctional Service.
The presence of both the outgoing and incumbent NDLEA State Commandants at the ceremony highlighted the agency’s central and continuous role in the state’s anti-drug campaign.
The committee has been tasked with partnering with the NDLEA to design and implement effective policies and strategies to make Cross River State drug-free or significantly reduce the menace.
In her inaugural address, the First Lady stressed her strong commitment to the cause, noting that drug abuse disproportionately affects young people and is impacting all sectors of society. She urged members to be proactive, united, and committed to their new mandate.
In a show of support, the NYCN Chairman, Comrade Emmanuel Olayi, thanked the First Lady for the confidence placed in him and other members, pledging the full support of the youth community in achieving a drug-free Cross River.
