By Sarah NEGEDU
Prominent stakeholders from the academia, security, government, public service and the media, have called for a collective responsibility in addressing the growing menace of social ills, particularly among young people.
The stakeholders stated this during the ‘Beyond the Veil: Realities of Social Ills’ webinar, hosted by Dr. Lois Otse Adams, Founder of Udukhotse Foundation.
The keynote speaker, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, now Yakubu Gowon University, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi, emphasised the need to build a generation of young men and women committed to positive change and nation-building.
He encouraged young people to desist from all forms of anti-social behaviour and activities detrimental to society, stressing that a better future could only be achieved through responsible citizenship, integrity and active participation in societal development.
On prevention, Emmanuel Ogbeche, Special Adviser to Cross Rivers State Governor and former chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, stressed the importance of addressing harmful behaviours from an early stage.
He advocated for intentional parenting through proper teaching and guidance of children before negative influences take root.
Referring to the alarming quantity of illicit drugs recovered across the country, the former Chief Press Secretary noted that the challenge extends beyond physical interactions to the digital space, where peer influence has become increasingly pervasive.
He urged parents, educators and stakeholders to make conscious efforts to educate young people on the dangers of digital influences and social vices. He also highlighted the importance of instilling the values of hard work and integrity, noting that honest labour ultimately yields lasting rewards.
From a security research perspective, a United States IFPO and United Kingdom certified protection officer, Yusuf Haruna (CSP retd), examined the remote causes of social ills, challenging participants to reflect on their root causes and identify sustainable solutions.
He stressed that parents have a significant responsibility in shaping the character of their children, noting that criminal behaviour develops progressively from association with negative peer groups to deeper involvement in crime, often leading to remorse and in extreme cases, psychological instability.
The Chief Executive of Hay Bravo Security called for early intervention and stronger family values to prevent young people from embarking on such destructive paths.
Delivering her remarks, the first female Edo North Local Government Council Chairman, Princess Benedicta Attoh encouraged citizens to report suspicious activities, emphasising that speaking up is an act of self-protection as well as community protection.
She urged young people to choose what is right even when it is unpopular and called on the government to continue strengthening the nation’s security architecture, expressing support for the state policing initiative.
According to her, kidnapping begins in the mind and thrives when society celebrates wealth without questioning its source or ignores obvious warning signs. She reminded participants that there is dignity in honest labour, regardless of how modest the work may be.
Describing social media as a wilderness, where vulnerable individuals are often targeted, she urged citizens to remain vigilant, speak out against wrongdoing and support the government-led social advocacy initiatives.
Senator Iroegbu, Chief Executive of Sentinel Media, described kidnapping as a communal problem that requires both preventive and punitive measures.
While acknowledging the importance of punishing offenders, he emphasised that prevention remains the responsibility of the entire society. He highlighted the critical role of the media in educating young people about the dangers and consequences of criminality, noting that no society has ever achieved sustainable progress through crime.
He warned that the leaders of tomorrow cannot emerge from kidnapping and other criminal activities and encouraged young people to live a life of integrity and transparency, concluding with the charge, “Choose life and live.”
Other participants, who added their voices to the advocacy through notes were Prof. Wesley Daniel Nafarnda of the University of Abuja; Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo-Anani, Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Edo State; Eugenia Abdallah, Commissioner for women affairs and social development, Edo State and Dame Vera Sado, APC chairmanship candidate.
The webinar concluded with a unanimous call for stronger collaboration among parents, educational institutions, government agencies, security stakeholders, the media and the wider community to promote positive values, discourage criminality and build a safer, more responsible society while the host appreciated everyone for joining the advocacy platform.
