By Ado Salisu
The Acting Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Dr. Murtala Musa, says sports remain an effective tool for curbing drug abuse among youths.
Musa stated this during a courtesy visit to the Kano State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), where he stressed the need for strategic collaboration between the two organisations to sensitise young people to the dangers of drug abuse.
He said the visit was aimed at strengthening partnership efforts toward promoting a drug-free society through sports and youth engagement programmes.
According to him, the commission plans to reintroduce the Inter-Local Government Sports Competition, a flagship initiative involving all 44 local government areas of the state.
He explained that the competition would serve as a platform for educating youths on the harmful effects of illicit drug use while encouraging healthy lifestyles and positive social engagement.
Musa commended the leadership of the NDLEA Kano State Command for the warm reception accorded to his delegation and urged youths to embrace sports as a pathway to wealth creation, self-development and responsible living.
He noted that sports continued to provide opportunities for young Nigerians to excel and become productive members of society.
Responding, the NDLEA Kano State Commander, Dahiru Lawan Yahya, said the agency’s mandate was anchored on arrest and prosecution of offenders, preventive education and advocacy, as well as youth empowerment and community engagement.
Yahya welcomed the Sports Commission’s initiative and assured the agency’s readiness to collaborate in the sustained fight against drug abuse in the state.
He urged youths to shun illicit substances and channel their energies into productive pursuits that would contribute to personal growth and societal development.
The visit underscored the commitment of both organisations to promoting healthy lifestyles, youth development and a drug-free Kano State through sustained collaboration, institutional synergy and public enlightenment campaigns.