Date: 2022-12-19

Oasis Muslim Care Foundation (OMCF), a non-governmental organisation that cares for the sick and needy, has advised secondary school students on the dangers of drug abuse and addiction.

The advice was given during the foundation’s 8th Secondary Schools Public Health Enlightenment programme held on Tuesday, 13th December 2022 at Ethical College, Ilorin, Kwara State.

The guest speaker, Pharmacist Abdulwasiu Olagunju, an Assistant Director of Pharmacy at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, spoke on the topic "Drug Abuse, Misuse and Management."

Olagunju spoke extensively on drug abuse, misuse, and addiction, citing various examples of how people abuse, misuse, and become addicted to drugs. According to a statement by the foundation, the lecturer advised the students to stay away from hard drugs and everything related to drug addiction.

The statement read, “Olagunju explained the differences between drug abuse and misuse. He explained the connection between the abuse of drugs and the rising cases of liver diseases, renal failure and brain damage. He also dwelt on the havoc drug addiction wrecks on the individual and the larger society. He advised the students only to take drugs based on prescription by qualified medical practitioners and to stick to the dosages and duration prescribed."

Present at the event were about 135 students drawn from the Ilorin metropolis. The schools present were: Nobel Enterprises & Technology College, Fate-Basin Secondary School and Ethical College.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of Oasis Muslim Care Foundation, Dr. Abdulrauf Yusuf explained that while one of the cardinal objectives of the organisation is taking care of the indigent and sick, it has been organising public health lectures to educate the public on the causes of ill-health and how to improve their health and well-being.

In his vote of thanks, a committee member of the Oasis Muslim Care Foundation, Mallam Abdulazeez Alaaya, thanked the host school's management, principal, staff, and students for accommodating the organisation. He also appreciated the invited schools and teachers that attended the event.

Also at the event were the Chairman of the Ethical College Management Board, Dr Ahmad Uthman, and Oasis Muslim Care Foundation committee members: Engineer Taofik Abdulkareem Babaita and Mallam Muhammad Shuaib.