Gov. Gabriel Suswam of Benue on Thursday commended NAFDAC for involving youths in the fight against substandard and fake drugs.
Suswam made the commendation
in Abuja at the annual award in the Secondary Schools Competition under the NAFDAC Consumer Safety Club (NCSC) Programme, organised by the agency.
“NAFDAC has done well by teaching these younger ones the implications of counterfeit and fake drugs; the lessons they have been taught at their various clubs can never be taken away from them.
“It will go a long way to effect change in the society during their time because they now know the evil of engaging in counterfeit drugs.
“It is necessary to inculcate in the younger generation certain core values that they will grow up with; there is a need for us as leaders to create an enabling environment for children and youths to exhibit their potential.”
The governor noted that efforts to make Nigeria a better country should not be left in the hands of government alone, hence all hands must be on deck.
He said his administration was organising youth programmes which would add positive values to the lives of the younger ones.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Sen. Datong Gyang; and the Vice-Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Health, Mr Halima Hassan, also commended the agency for all its activities in fighting substandard and fake drugs.
Also speaking, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr Paul Orhii, explained that the annual secondary schools competition was one of the agency’s public enlightenment strategies for the youth.
“In our effort to eradicate fake and substandard regulated products, we find it necessary to reorientate our youths through the activities of the NAFDAC Consumer Safety Club,” he said.
Orhii said the club was aimed at informing and educating members toward collaborating with the agency on safe- guarding the health of the nation.
He urged the students to endeavour to report to the agency any case of adverse effect of any drug taken by people around them, saying that it would help the agency carry out further investigation.
“As NCSC members, you have the responsibility to assist in information flow on NAFDAC’s regulatory activities and promote the fight against fake and counterfeit regulated products.”
A student of Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja, Okafor Chinwendu, emerged the best winner of the annual award and used the occasion to encourage other students in their academic pursuits.
The 2011 NCSC competition was conducted for winners from the states and zones.