The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye, has called on the youths in the state to refrain from drug abuse to realize their potential and contribute meaningfully to societal development.

Aribasoye also charged all stakeholders in the state to join hands to battle the menace of drug abuse and have a saner society.

The Speaker made the remarks on Monday while receiving leaders and members of the state chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), who staged the “Ekiti Youth Peace Walk” to the Assembly Complex as part of activities to mark this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse.

Aribasoye also used the opportunity of the interface to canvass the support of the youths for Governor Biodun Oyebanji to enable him to achieve his Shared Prosperity Agenda for the entire people of the state.

He specifically commended the youths for praising the giant strides of the Oyebanji Administration through the various banners and placards they carried during their procession.

The Speaker, who was joined by other lawmakers from the state Assembly to receive the NYCN team, also advised the youths to be part of governance by sponsoring private bills for consideration by the state legislature in critical areas, especially in policy formulation and decision-making.

He said the Assembly would like the youth body to work on a Roadmap to Youth Development in Ekiti State, which would incorporate vital areas that concern them, like political ascendancy, job creation, and economic empowerment, among others.

The Speaker also disclosed the readiness of the Seventh Assembly to come up with a law that would prohibit smoking in public places, noting that “public smoking does not only affect smokers but also affects non-smokers.”

Speaking on the effects of drug abuse on youths, Aribasoye regretted that the abuse of hard drugs has had a negative effect on the youth population, urging all concerned individuals, authorities, institutions, and bodies to come together and halt the trend in the interest of the youths and their future.

He said, “Today, as you have observed, is the International Day Against Drug Abuse. One of the things that has destroyed the future of the youth is drug abuse, and all of us must be ambassadors and champions to campaign against drug abuse.

“Anywhere we find ourselves, we must campaign against drug abuse. We just have to do it for us to have a saner society. We must campaign against drug abuse; it is very, very important.

“Drug abuse has affected many lives and destroyed destinies. God has given talents to our youth to positively affect their generation, and we must not allow drug abuse to hinder them from realizing their potential.

Speaking earlier, the state NYCN Chairman, Mr. Oluwasegun Famuyibo, pledged the support of the body and the entire youths of the state for the Oyebanji Administration, which he described as “youth-friendly.”

Mr. Famuyibo commended Governor Oyebanji for creating the Ministry of Youths and Job Creation, which he described as a bold step to give the young generation better welfare and tackle youth unemployment in the state.

He appealed for the support of the House of Assembly for the implementation of the Ekiti Youth Policy, which has its centerpiece on how youths can benefit from various MDAs, including the provision of jobs, entrepreneurship development, and empowerment, among other benefits.