Abuja: The Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter, Thursday, said it is positioned to join the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in combating drug abuse. This was made known by Chairperson of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter of NAWOJ, Mrs Bassey Ita-Ikpang, during a courtesy visit to the Chairman of NDLEA, Mohammed Buba-Marwa.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mrs. Ita-Ikpang emphasized the urgent need for increased sensitization on the dangers of drug abuse and called for stigma-free reporting of drug-related issues. She expressed concern over the rising cases of substance abuse, particularly among women and girls, which often go underreported or are portrayed in ways that reinforce negative stereotypes.
Mrs. Ita-Ikpang announced that the chapter plans to conduct a one-day intensive training for 100 female journalists across the FCT. The aim is to educate them on reporting cases of drug abuse without stigmatization, thereby reshaping public narratives and promoting rehabilitation and support for victims instead of condemnation.
In response, Buba-Marwa, represented by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi, acknowledged the alarming statistics of drug abuse in Nigeria, with 14.3 million Nigerians engaging in illicit substance use. He emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts like this initiative, aligning with NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, to address the issue effectively.
Mr. Babafemi assured that NAWOJ’s proposal would be presented to NDLEA’s international and local partners to garner support and funding for the training initiative. He highlighted the crucial role of the media in the fight against drug abuse and expressed the agency’s commitment to exploring all possible avenues to make the partnership a success.