Drugs, Crime And The African Child

REPORT AT THE PUBLIC SYMPOSIUM OF SCIENCE CORNER UNDER SCIENCE CITY CENTRE HELD ON THE 28^TH MAY, 2018 AT INITIATIVE FOR INFORMATION ARTS AND CULTURE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA.

OPENING REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN SCIENCE CITY CENTRE PROFESSOR GABRIEL B. OGUNMOLA FAS AT A PUBLIC SYMPOSIUM TITLED “DRUGS, CRIME AND THE AFRICAN CHILD AT INITIATIVE FOR INFORMATION ARTS AND CULTURE, NIGERIA.

It is an asset to Science, this City, the Nation and the World of Science to have you all at this Public Symposium at the Science Corner within Initiative for Information Arts and Culture Development in Nigeria under the auspices of the Science City Centre Ibadan.

The Science City Centre Ibadan (SSC), was established to be leading science advancement centre, building capacity in science, communicating the value and impact of science and technology in a growing and dynamic knowledge economy and simultaneously building the science, engineering, technology and innovation human resource base in Nigeria. As part of its activities it has accepted to promote public understanding of Science through Public Lectures, Seminars, Science Exhibitions, School Quiz Programmes in Science and experimental demonstrations to generate enlightment within the City of Ibadan and the entire Science area so well defined within 200 kilometers from Ibadan Centre City.

The Initiative for Information Arts and Culture Development in Nigeria (IACD), was established to facilitate the access of growing numbers of the Nigerian population to the best that has been thought and written in world’s civilizations through the provision of books, through exhibitions, and through the sponsorship of concerts and Science City Centre has decided to collaborate in this endeavour of mutual interest.

As part of the 2018 Children’s Day activities, and knowing of the near epidemics of drugs and substance abuse across the nation, the Science City Centre has organized a symposium to talk and address the issue involved in drugs and substance abuse. It is our privilege to have ask for your participation as we gather to listen and to learn at this Public Symposium titled “Drugs, Crime and the African Child” in order to engage the Public to address the issue and matters arising thereof. The views as our expert, speaker, discussants and the general audience are very vital in this Public discourse and dissemination of information on our response to the near epidemics of drugs and substance abuse. We have impressive list of Speakers, a foremost School Principal, an agricultural Scientists, a Retired National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), an International Consultant on Drug Control and Crime Prevention, Children and Youth Matters. A Honorary Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry, University of Sheffield, Executive Medical Director & Visiting Consultant Psychiatrist, A Neurologists and Neuro-Rehabilitation and Wellness Expert.

‘Sweet Sweet Codeine’ a BBC Documentary looks at the cough syrup industry and how codeine is causing a plague of addiction. The sweet tasting opioid is found in night clubs and neighbourhood back Streets in different communities in Lagos, Kano, Jigawa and other towns in the country. The documentary also showed many of the past users who are already demented in Rehabilitation Centers. Codeine is not the only drugs being abused; there is an epidemic of illicit drugs being consumed in large quantities by kids and adolescent. We all need to rise up in response to these epidemics and save our nation’s kids and adolescent.

Looking at what Science can do in this epidemic is crucial for us to come to the nation’s rescue. We are talking of drug and brain function and also look into structure, function and drug interaction. We are talking of mind control and looking at powerful persuasive technology tools to help people get off opioids or communicate with each other on a more meaningful level. We already know how to engineer the brain to be a good little social media user. We can look into the future to engineer the brain to be who we want to be to control behavior to drug abuse.

Science City Centre wishes to thank you all for your kind attention and for your presence, in acts that reinforces the confidence of this Public Symposium, Science Corner activities of the Initiative for Information Arts and Culture Development in Nigeria in coming together for an intervention to this critical issue of drugs and substance abuse in the African Child to save our collective future.

Chairman’s Opening Speech by Dr. Olawale Lagundoye (Moderator) at Public Symposium

Distinguished Guest, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of hosts” Science City Centre” and “the Initiative for information arts and culture Development in Nigeria, Ibadan”   I would like to welcome you to today’s public symposium On Drugs, Crime and the African Child, in honour of the youth. Today’s lecture is timely in that it focuses on a significant global phenomenon affecting the lives of youths, their families and society. Psychoactive substance misuse and its consequences!

A quarter of a billion people globally  (1in 20 Adults ) are estimated to have used an illicit drug at least once  in 2015 , of this  29.5 million ( 0.6 %of the global population ) suffer from Drug use disorders ,(UNODC , World Drug Report 2017 ) , in which their drug use is harmful to the extent that they are dependent on it and  might require treatment.70 % of the global burden of diseases associated with Drug use is attributable to Opiod use . However, this parameter views morbidity mainly in terms of physical illness, (blood borne diseases – hepatitis, HIV), fatal and non- fatal overdose. The social and psychological sequela of psychoactive substance misuse are more far reaching, the impact on the individual, their families and communities, the loss of potential is immeasurable.

Cannabis is the most common drug  of abuse , a national  epidemiological study of  11 treatment centres across the country (n-1044 36.2 % cannabis ,28.3 % opiates , 17.1% alcohol  (of which the opiates were mainly prescription medication -Tramadol 71%,codeine 15.1% , pentazocine 9.9% ,herion and morphine 3.3%  ) (NENDU 2015 ) .

In the USA, President Trump recently declared a national epidemic, Prof Adewole,(The health minister )recently banned the production of benilyin and codeine containing medication following concerns about the levels of misuse of cough mixture across the country. A significant step in the battle yet it remains the tip of the iceberg. Our youth are particularly vulnerable to, social factors such as increased availability, loosening family ties, changing social norms and values, the glamorisation of substance use, unemployment provide a potent mix. 50 % of Nigeria’s population is under the age of 25, we need to bring this discussion to the fore front of our national dialogue.

Our Guest speaker Mrs. Adetula has been at the forefront of public policy development and its implementation. She is an international development expert on drug control, youth and children matters.

Please welcome our guest speaker.

 

PUBLIC SYMPOSIUM LECTURE PRESENTED BY THE LEAD SPEAKER MRS. GRACE OYEBOLA ADETULA

WHO ARE THE YOUTHS

Youths we are discussing classified into the following groups

• Pre Teens & Teenagers – 10 to 19 Yrs
• Young Adults – 19 to 35 Yrs
• Adolescents-35 Years+

INTRODUCTION

• Drugs date back to earliest times
• Researches (NDLEA 1991-2006) have revealed the involvement of Nigerian Youths, both in and out of school
• Those between 10 – 29 years constitute the high risk groups
• Males are more involved than Females, but recent findings reveal more females in the North of Nigeria now abuse Codeine Syrup
• Abuse starts as early as 10 Yrs – with Alcohol of different types, Tobacco, and local herbs etc

 

 

DEFINITIONS AND MODES OF USE:

• Drug is any type of chemical substance which when taken into the body, alters the person’s mood, state of mind and or behaviour.
• Drugs are usually taken orally, inhaled, smoked, injected or snorted.
• Drugs can also be licked
• “Drug Abuse” implies use of any substance when:
• It is not medically necessary;
• It’s use is legally prohibited by law;
• When it is excessively used, as in the case of socially acceptable drugs- Alcohol, Tobacco, etc.
• Isaiah 5:11, Ephesians 5:18

ISAIAH 5:11

• Those who get up early to drink beer are as good as dead, those who keep drinking long after dark until they are intoxicated with wine.

EPHESIANS 5:18

• And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery but be filled by the spirit.

WHY DO YOUTHS LIKE TO ABUSE DRUGS?

• Peer group pressure ;
• Unemployment;
• Parental drug sub-culture;
• parental deprivation ;
• Stresses;
• Desire to achieve success;
• Get rich quick
• Availability of drugs;
• Personality defects e. g low self esteem,
• Experimentation/curiosity;
• Need for excitement;

WHY DO THEY ABUSE DRUGS?

• Loss of loved ones
• To feel accepted by his/peers
• To defy constituted authority, parents and guardians
• To enhance their sexual performance as 5 to 10 minutes is not enough.
• Makes them more relaxed and confident
• Enables them have access to rich kids
• To understand themselves better
• To escape pain and worries
• Some musicians use drugs to make them perform longer without getting tired

DRUGS OF ABUSE

• Socially-Acceptable Drugs e.g. Alcohol (Ogogoro, Beer, Burukutu, etc) Tobacco (Cigarette, Snuff, etc)
• Stimulants e.g. Amphetamines and related substances
• Magic Mushroom
• Depressants (e.g. Valium, Librium , rophynol, tramadol, diazepam and lexotan, etc
• Cocaine
• Cannabis (igbo, ganja, pot, marijuana etc):

The only illicit drug cultivated in Nigeria

Most common illicit drug of abuse in Nigeria

Most trafficked drug in Nigeria

• Narcotics e.g Heroin, Methadone
• Inhalants e. g glue, nail polish remover, paint, petrol, solvents etc
• Hallucinogens e.g. LSD, PCP etc
• Anabolic Steroids
• Unconventional Drugs: (Drugs not under International Control e.g. Pawpaw leaves, Zakami, Codeine, cough syrup, pit latrine, Lizard excrement, etc)

RESPONSES FROM DRUG ADDICTS

• I was bored and I need/want some fun
• Drugs help me to forget my problems
• I want to be strong and courageous
• I need to cope with the stress of life

HOW TO IDENTIFY A DRUG ABUSER

1. Signs of Drug Use and Drug Paraphernalia :

• Possession of peculiar plants, seeds, leaves, pipes, rolling papers etc
• Odour of drugs, smell of incense or other cover up etc.

1. b) Identification with Drug Culture :

• Drug related magazines
• Hostility in discussing drugs

1. c) Signs of Physical Deterioration :

• Memory lapses, poor attention span etc
• Slurred or incoherent speech , indifference to hygiene Blood shot eyes, dilated pupils etc

1. d) Changes in Behaviour:

• Distinct downward performance in school or workplace
• Chronic dishonesty, lying, cheating, Stealing
• inappropriate anger, hostility, secretiveness
• Change of friends, Increased absenteeism, lateness etc

CONSEOUENCES OF DRUG ABUSE

Physical

• Damage to vital body organs e.g. Brain, Heart, Liver, Lungs, Kidney, etc
• Destroys the Immune System,
• Chronic Cough
• Damage to unborn Babies
• Dementia ( loss of memory)
• Premature Death

Social

• Family disintegration e.g. Divorce
• Dropping out of school/Downward academic performance
• Criminal offences e.g. Armed robbery, etc
• Cultism
• Prostitution
• Destitution
• Loss of job
• Accidents, etc

Psychological

• Hallucination: feeling what is not there; tasting what is not in their mouths; smelling what does not exist; seeing what is not present; visual perception is disoriented; they feel heat or cold; lose sense of balance; and lose sense of time
• Depression
• Personality disintegration
• Lack of motivation
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Insomnia (Sleeplessness)
• Difficulty in concentrating (Restlessness)
• Nervousness
• Psychotic behaviour, etc
• The altering effect or mood swings predisposes the individual into committing crime.

Datura, Zakami, Ewe Ifon

 

Purple

Drug Abuser Before & After

Drug Abuser Before & After

Drug Abuser

Drug Abuser’s Teeth

Fela Kuti Died of Marijuana Abuse / AIDS at 59

Marijuana

Marijuana plant

Fresh Marijuana leave

Cocaine from Coca plant

Coca leaves

Heroin from Poppy plant

CONTROL DRUGS

NEXT SLIDES SHOW SOME CONTROL DRUGS-

• GOVERNMENT CONTROLS THE SALE AND USE OF THESE DRUGS.
• THEY ARE ADDICTIVE AND PSYCHOACTIVE IN NATURE.
• THEY MUST BE USED UNDER DOCTOR’S INSTRUCTIONS.
• THEY ARE ALSO KNOWN AS PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

“DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION” WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY?

EVERYONE HAS A ROLE TO PLAY:

ROLE OF YOUTHS/STUDENTS-

• Stay Drug Free
• Resist the pressure to abuse drugs
• Speaking forcefully against drug abuse
• Participate in anti-drug abuse programmes
• Report drug abusers to parents/church/school

CONCLUSSION AND WAY FORWARD

• Advise NAFDAC to stop approval of selling alcoholic beverages in small packs
• Organize more enlightening programs like this one for schools
• Help should be sought and proper counselling offered by the rehabilitation centres in our society, stigmatization should be stemmed and discouraged
• Trained counselors to carry out visitations to various joints and hide outs of local drug addicts and speak to them about the benefits of living a normal life.
• National Assembly to review our laws guiding NAFDAC and NDLEA in their work

CITATION OF DR. OLAWALE LAGUNDOYE (CHAIRMAN)

Name:Dr Wale Lagundoye

Qualifications: MBBS (Ibadan),CCST in General Adult Psychiatry & Addiction Psychiatry (UK), FRCPsych(UK),Honorary senior lecturer in psychiatry ,University of Sheffield, Executive Medical Director & Visiting Consultant Psychiatrist, The Retreat, Ikorodu, Lagos.

Dr Wale Lagundoye is a Clinical Director and currently works as a Consultant in Addiction Psychiatry in the NHS, Sheffield, UK.

Dr Lagundoye graduated from the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. He started his training in Psychiatry at the Department of Psychiatry, UCH Ibadan, before proceeding to the UK. He has over 30 years of experience as a clinician, trainer, medical manager and leader in a variety of national and international settings.

Dr Lagundoye is a researcher and writer with publications in peer reviewed journals and text books. He is a mental health advocate who is passionate about impacting global knowledge regarding mental health and substance misuse as well as engaging youths in dialogue around these issues. He is actively involved in service development in the UK and Nigeria.

He is a co-founder of The Retreat, a private specialist psychiatry facility located in Ikorudu , Lagos .

www.theretreathealthcare.com , +2348181110365

 

CITATION OF MRS. GRACE OYEBOLA ADETULA (LEAD SPEAKER)

PERSONAL PROFILE & CAREER SUMMARY FOR MRS. GRACE OYEBOLA ADETULA – RENOWNED POLICY EXPERT WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON THE FOLLOWING KEY SECTORS:

 

Drug control, terrorism; corruption; security, illicit proliferation, circulation and trafficking in small arms and light weapons; illegal migration and trafficking in women and children; gender empowerment and social protection.

 

Mrs. Grace Oyebola Adetula, an International Expert on Drug Control and Crime Prevention, Youth and Children Matters, obtained a BSc Degree in Agricultural Biology, and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria, in 1969 and 1970 respectively. In 1990, she benefited from a Training Fellowship by the British Council for ‘In-service Teacher Education and Change in Schools’ from New Ham College, University of Cambridge, England.

 

She began her career as a teacher in secondary grammar schools in Ibadan and Lagos. She rose steadily to the position of a Principal of several secondary grammar schools including co-educational ones in Lagos before she was made the foundation Principal of Government College, Osborne Road Ikoyi in 1978/79 session where she started with 36 arms of form 1. These were later divided into four arms the following year to form the three additional schools within the complex.

In 1991, she transferred her services to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) as an Assistant Director, where she rose to become the Director of the Drug Demand Reduction Department in 1993. Some of her achievements include the successful co-ordination of the development of a Master Plan on Drug Demand Reduction Programmes for Nigeria, as well as Preventive Drug Abuse Education Curricular targeted inter alia at Nigerian educational institutions right from Primary to tertiary educational institutions. She has undergone many courses on the various aspects of drug control and crime prevention.

Mrs. Adetulawas seconded by the Nigerian government to the Commission of African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from July 1998 to March 2005, where she established the Drug Control and Crime Prevention Unit for the Commission of the AU, through the implementation of a joint OAU/UNODC Project AD/RAF/97/C70, “Capacity Building for the Implementation of the OAU Plan of Action on Drug Control” July 1998 to 2001; and AD/RAF/02/G39 “Implementation of the AU Plan of Action on Drug Control and Crime Prevention” 2001 to March 2005.

 

Realizing the important role of the continental organization in policy and advocacy, and considering the many relevant programmes and activities it carries out, Mrs. Adetula led efforts to mainstream components of drug control and crime prevention into the various programmes and activities at the African Union Commission. These include, but are not limited to, resolution and management of conflict with emphasis on rehabilitation of ex-child soldiers, Trafficking in Persons and Child Labour, agriculture, women’s issues, economic issues to include money laundering, children and youth matters, terrorism, corruption, population, health, labourand social affairs, and doping in sports. She was also responsible for formulating policies, monitoring and coordinating drug control and crime prevention programmes and activities among the 53 Member States of the AU. Furthermore, Mrs. Adetula was a member of the AU team that worked on the OAU Convention on Prevention and Combating Terrorism 1999; the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption 2003; and the Ouagadougou Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings, Especially Women and Children as adopted by the Ministerial Conference on Migration and Development.

 

She was a panelist at a conference organized by the University of Massachusetts, Boston, USA in November 2008 where she presented a paper titled Female Ex Child Soldiers: Case Studies for East and West Africa. (http://www.rebuilding.umb.edu/rsccfd/presenters.html).  She has now been appointed a staff Affiliate of the Center for Rebuilding Sustainable Communities after Disaster, University of Massachusetts, Boston USA http://www.rebuilding.umb.edu/staff.shtml

 

She has, in the course of her duties, organized, supervised or attended no less than 85 seminars, workshops, symposia and conferences across the globe. She is also an active participant in more than 14 professional and voluntary societies. She was a member of the African Union Delegation to South Sudan to carry out the “Needs Assessment of the war affected areas” in May 2004. She also organized and coordinated the First AU Ministerial Conference on Drug Control in Africa, which was held in Yamoussoukro, Cote D’Ivoire 2 to 10 May 2002; and subsequent one that was held in Mauritius, December 14 to 18 2004. 

Some of her recent publications/presentations include: “Preventive Drug Education Curricula in Nigerian Schools, and Life Skills Education in Schools,” (World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva, 1992); The role of demobilized girl soldiers in participatory community development after wars in Africa, presented at the 4^th Women in Africa and the African Diaspora (WAAD) International Conference on Education, Gender & Sustainable Development in the Age of Globalization Abuja, Nigeria (August 3-8, 2009); Female Ex Child Soldiers: Case Studies for East and West Africa, presented at the Center for Rebuilding Sustainable Communities after Disaster, University of Massachusetts, Boston, USA; “Women Trafficking, Drugs and Crime; Challenges within the context of War and Conflict”(the Third meeting of African Union Women ‘s Committee, Tunis – Tunisia, 24 – 25 April 2008); “The Impact of Alcohol and Drugs on The Spread of HIV/AIDS among Ex-Child Soldiers” (Workshop on HIV/AIDS and its impact on Ex-Child Soldiers/Captives in the Great Lakes Region of Africa, in Kampala, Uganda from February, 21-22 2008); “Drugs in Conflicts: The Challenges of Demobilization, Disarmament and Reintegration (DDR) of Female Ex-child Soldiers in Africa” (Workshop on the Rehabilitation and Reintegration of female Ex-Child Soldiers/Captives in the Great Lakes Region, Kigali, Rwanda from December 6-7, 2007); and, “Women Trafficking, Drugs and Crime: Challenges for the African Parliament” (the Conference on the Popularization and Implementation of the Solemn Declaration on Gender and Equality in Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from October 10-12, 2007.)

 

She presented  a paper titled “Migration and Development in the African Sub-region” at the Seventh Journalists Conference under the Motto “Correcting Images (Bildkorrekturen)” which took place from 26th to 28th of November 2009 in Feldafing near Munich. This was organized by InWEnt – Capacity Building International (www.inwent.org), an organization for advanced training and dialogue of the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). She attended the 5^th Meeting of “WOMEN FOR A BETTER WORLD” at the invitation of the Her Excellency, MmeTeresa de la Vega, Vice-President and Minister of the Presidency, Valencia Spain 27 to 29 March 2010. As a member of the African Women Leaders Think Tank (AWLTT), she organized with others, the Regional Strategic Leadership Development Workshop/Training for Women, June 14-17, 2012 Lagos, Nigeria. She also participated in the 4^th African Union Conference of Ministers for Drug Control and Crime Prevention 28 September to 02 October 2010,the 5^thone October 08 to October 12 2012 and the ADF VII on Climate Change and Food Security, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

 

She retired in November 2005, and currently works as a consultant on Drug Control and Crime Prevention, Children and Youth Issues with Freedom Foundation, (www.freedomfoundationng.org), an NGO that focuses on rehabilitation, education and empowerment of the vulnerable ones in society. Also a very active member of Society for Family and Social Protection in Nigeria, and represented the NGO at the just concluded workshop titled Women, Water and Welfare: Social Protection and WASH from a Gender Perspective  held on  Monday 7^th March 2018 in Geneva, Switzerland.2^nd April 2018, EL Charity Lecture, Ijebu-Ode: Presented a Paper titled Drugs, Crime and the Less Privileged African Child; 5^th April 2018, at The Lead University, Ibadan. Chairperson at the Faculty Lecture with the theme: Substance Use in Adolescents and Its emerging Trends; 17^th May 2018, Youth Summit ByIkene Local Government, Ilisan Remo: Presented a Paper titled Drugs, Crime, Youth and the Adolescents

Email: bolaadetula@gmail.com

Tel: +234-818-454-6135 ; +234-802-376-6046and +234-805-271-0802

 

CITATION OF PROF. MAYOWA OJO OWOLABI (DISCUSSANT)

Biographical Information

Mayowa Ojo OWOLABI MBBS, MSc, Dr.Med, MWACP, FMCP, FAAN, FAS, Professor of Neurology, and Dean-elect Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Ibadan, has won numerous awards including AU-TWAS Young Scientist National Award (Life Sciences-2011) Inter-academy Medical Panel–Young Physician Leaders Award (2011) and was elected into the Presidium of the World Federation for Neurorehabilitation WFNR (2018).

He is an innovative scientist with several inventions including the stroke levity scale, the stroke recovery cycle, the Seed of Life Model, the HRQOLISP, a quality of life measure, in use across the world including Spain, Jamaica, Germany, Nigeria, and Ghana. He pioneered the establsihement of the First Center for Neurorehabilitation in East, West and Central Africa.

(Blossom Center).

A scholar with a stroke phenotyping software patent; over 94 international scientific presentations; and over 180 publications in peer-reviewed journals including The Lancet,  Science, and New England Journal of Medicine.

Prof. Owolabi is a recognized global leader in science covering neurology, neuro-rehabilitation, and community-based genomic epidemiology of stroke in Africa. He is on the editorial boards of several high impact journals and a reviewer for numerous journals and research funding institutes. He has supervised / is supervising 10 doctorates. He discovered novel risk factors for stroke on the continent; and is the pioneer leader of the largest study of cardiovascular diseases in Africa (H3Africa-CVD WG with >55 000 subjects). He is the pioneer Regional Vice-President, World Federation of Neurorehabilitation (Africa);  a member of the Presidium of the WFNR; Co-Chair, Joint Publication Committee-Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases, pioneer Director, Centre for Genomic and Precision Medicine, University of Ibadan; and Lead Co-chair, The Lancet Neurology Commission on Stroke in developing countries. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology and a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science.

CLOSING REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN (DR. OLAWALE LAGUNDOYE)

Distinguished guests ladies and gentlemen once again I will like to thank you for contributions to this debate. Our guest speaker Mrs. Adetula has spoken about the dangers our society faces from substance use, highlighting the plight of the less privileged child. She has emphasized the Tripartite of illicit drugs use, crime and social disadvantage, its consequence’s as well as complications.

Our panel has deliberated on what we need to do to address these challenges.

These challenges cut across all strata of our communities and society (No social class is exempt).

We have discussed the urgency of the need to take action and the first steps on this journey.  Our youths are the Jewel in the crown in the future of our Nation as they lie in the crosswinds of the menace of substance, now is the time for action!

“Irorun Igi ni Irorun Eiye “

I would like to thank our host the “science city centre”, The initiative for information arts and culture Development in Nigeria for the visons in starting this conversation ,Its truly the beginning of a journey . I will like to thank Tijani Oyesola, Mrs. Adefemi Bucknor Arigbede, Director (ICAD ), My parents Prof. and Mrs.  Lagundoye for creating the opportunities for us to achieve our potential and their unwavering support in life’s journey.  Special thanks to the Doyen of the Sciences Pro.f Gabriel B. Ogunmola and his wife Auntie Ronke – for his indefatigable defence of science, you remain a source of great inspiration, thanks for making this possible.

I will like to leave you with the words:

No society can claim to be completely free from the dire consequences that illicit drugs bring , —- And no country can deny that addressing this problem is a common and shared responsibility “ Mogens Lykkeloft ,UN General Assembly President ,April 2016.

“Keep out of reach children & Adults “