Premiere Academy in Abuja has partnered with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Abuja Command to conduct a one-day drug awareness seminar for students. The session focused on the health, social and legal consequences of substance abuse, aiming to promote a safe, drug-free learning environment. NDLEA officers engaged students through interactive discussions, answering questions and encouraging them to resist peer pressure and make informed choices. The agency team was led by Chief Superintendent of Narcotics Nduka Augustine, with Assistant Superintendents Chilaka Chinedum and Asabe Adole Sukai.
Principal Chris Akinsowon described the event as part of the school's annual programme to reinforce its zero-tolerance policy on drugs. He said parents now expect schools to provide not only academic excellence but also a disciplined environment that instills students with strong values. "Today's parents are no longer asking about grades alone. They want to know whether their children are in a safe and disciplined environment, surrounded by the right values and influences, and whether the school will equip them to navigate life's challenges with confidence," Akinsowon said. He called for sustained collaboration among governments, schools and parents to support drug awareness efforts, particularly for secondary school students.
Nduka Augustine cited statistics indicating over 14 million Nigerians aged 15 to 64 have used drugs at least once. He blamed easy access to illicit substances, peer pressure and the glamorisation of drug use on social media for rising youth involvement. "Quality education today goes beyond books and grades. It is about preparing students for life. Young people are increasingly exposed to harmful influences, and all institutions responsible for their upbringing must work together to provide a strong shield against drug abuse," Augustine said. He warned that drug abuse is a leading cause of death among Nigerian youths and carries severe long-term physical and mental health consequences.
The principal claims parents now care more about safety than grades, yet frames the seminar as an annual event rather than a response to a specific incident. If drug use is a leading cause of youth death, holding one session a year may not match the scale of the threat students face. The school's commitment to holistic education rests on repeated awareness, but the NDLEA's data suggests the current pace of intervention is outmatched by the spread of substance use.
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