By Akinola Afolabi
The Students' Executive of the College of Management and Social Sciences, led by Miss Jumoke Sanyaolu on 22nd May, 2025, organised a workshop on "Drug Abuse and its Implication for Youth and Society.
"The workshop was part of the activities to mark the College Week and the topic on drug abuse and its implication for youth and society was carefully selected to help address and eradicate such practices among young people as their future could be ruined if they embrace such lifestyle.
The guest speaker, Mr Ofuje OMEIZA, a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication (Glorious Vision University), shared his personal experience to enlighten students on the dangers of drug abuse. He emphasised that the root cause of young people getting involved into drugs and alcohol is hinged on a number of factors, among which are: bad parenting, peer pressure and other underlying factors.
He added that the implications of drug abuse among youths were academic difficulties, health-related problems, involvement with juvenile Justice system and many more.
In his lecture, he noted that drug abuse among youths could affect society through the demonstration of violence, crime, vagrancy and lots more.
Mr. Ofuje Omeiza in his address said "the best way to refrain from associating with drug and the abuse of it is to make a decision and hold unto it."
He explained that people cannot be forced or manipulated to quit drug abuse, unless they decide to do so.
Professor Monday Osemeke, Dean of COLMASS, in his keynote address, stressed that drug abuse and the use of illicit substance should be avoided by students because it could distort their academic progress. He also commended the students for initiating such a significant discourse.
The workshop attracted two principal officers of the university- the Registrar and Bursar.
Other important personalities that also graced the occasion of the workshop were all the Heads of Department in COLMASS, the College Officer of COLMASS and the Corporate Affairs Officer of the university.
The university's Registrar, Dr. Mrs. Pedetin Oluranti Afolabi, in her advisory remarks, encouraged students to embrace ethical and moral lifestyle as they are in the university to be moulded in character and learning; so that they could avoid negative impacts on their academic sojourn.
Other speakers took turns to reinforce the importance of focusing on education and taking the workshop's message seriously.
The workshop topic is in line with the vision of the university's highly esteemed Vice Chancellor, Professor Ezekiel S. Asemah, which is to eradicate every form of drug abuse and social vices among students in Glorious Vision University.
