Wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun has admonished parents to be sensitive to changes in their children’s behaviour, to prevent any potential exposure to drugs and other substance abuse.

Mrs. Abiodun said this during the opening ceremony of a 2-Day workshop organised for members of the Ogun State Drug Control Committee, at the Mitros Residences Hotel, Ibara, Abeokuta, noting that the role of parents and guardians at sensitising their children and wards on the dangers inherent in illicit drug use could not be overemphasised.

The first lady said that one of the ways to curb the menace was to get parents involved in the sensitisation against drug abuse, calling on them to pay attention to children at every stage of their development.

She said “social isolation for some and peer pressure for others are two major challenges confronting our children and adolescents today. As parents, we must be sensitive to changes in our children’s behaviour so that we can nip in the bud, any potential exposure to drugs and other substances”.

Mrs. Abiodun pointed out that immediate family units, larger units of the society such as schools, places of worship and recreational centers, as well as community leaders, influencers, and other gatekeepers should also be targeted and enlightened in the fight against the menace, charging the Committee to give their best possible to the task of ridding the state of drug abuse.

In her opening remark, the Commander, Ogun State National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mrs. Archie-Abia Ibinabo said the State Drug Control Committee was a crucial mechanism to support State level multi-MDA actions and to govern and coordinate responses in the State.

In his goodwill message, Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Lanre Bankole, who spoke on behalf of all the service commanders in the State appreciated the first lady for her sacrifice in combating the menace which had become a serious concern to law enforcement agencies.

The ceremony also had in attendance, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, DIG Olusola Subair (rtd.), Ogun State Service Commanders and other committee members.