By Okechukwu Okechukwu
Adorable Foundation International (AFI), an NGO, weekend opened a zonal office at Awka, the Anambra State capital with a view to empower the youth in Southeast geopolitical zone to shun illicit drugs and substance abuse.
The founder, AFI, Mayor Chigozie Nwizu-Attueyi, who disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the NGO, explained that youth empowerment was the only key to redirect the minds of youth off drugs because according to him, they would become resourceful, self sufficient and employers of labour.
According to him, AFI with offices across five states in South East Nigeria, was committed to charity works and welfare of all due to his philanthropist nature and passion to eliminate illicit drugs and crimes, and empower society for good.
"Adorable Foundation International has an acronym as ASACADA (A Social Awareness Campaign Against Drug Abuse) programme, designed to move the minds of youth away from illicit drugs and substance abuse. We are more into empowerment of youth using various links, initiatives and programmes available to us to get them busy, committed and shun drug abuse.
"We believe that you cannot successfully convince someone to move away from drug abuse without first directing the person to proper place to be. We have been in existence for over ten years. We have been organising world drugs day every June 26 in partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Anambra State.
"By establishing a branch of our office in Anambra State, we are going to do more. We work with a team of dedicated professionals who have years of experience in addiction recovery and counseling. Our team is passionate about what they do, and they are always ready to offer their expertise to those in need," he added.
He further maintained that they were ready and open to partnership with the government and other relevant authorities, including the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to reshape and redirect the minds of youth off drugs abuse.
Nwizu-Attueyi, however, advised youth to respect their parents and elders so as to live long, even as he appealed to parents to be watch dog to their children in order to eliminate crime and drug abuse among the youths.
The director said the vision and mission of the organization is to be a foremost philanthropist organization that seeks to deliver livelihood, empowerment, and render assistant to the less privileged, vulnerable of all ages, classes, tongues, tribes and drug addicts, facilitate access to sustainable means of livelihood and contributes to a better society.
In their separate speeches, the President General of Utuh in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State Prof.Cynado Ezeojidi and his counterparts from Ukpor, Chief Chibueze Igwe, hailed the founder for the initiative and urged the youth to disengage in abuse of drugs so as to live a longer and prosperous life.
Earlier, the Anambra State commissioner for Environment, Engr Felix Odimegwu hailed Nwizu-Attueyi for bringing home AFI, which he said his programme was in line with governor Chukwuma Soludo's agenda to empower youth and make the State liveable and prosperous.