By Seyi Odewale
In a move to address the alarming rise of substance abuse among youths, Capital City University Kano (CCUK) recently convened a high-level Special Talk-Shop, spotlighting the urgent need for preventive strategies in tertiary institutions.
The one-day event, themed around substance abuse prevention, was spearheaded by the University’s Pro-Chancellor, General (Prof.) Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd), a renowned criminologist and former Minister of Interior.
Dambazau, known for his enduring commitment to youth development, emphasised that higher institutions must not only train minds but also mould responsible citizens.
Vice Chancellor of CCUK, Prof Yusuf Daraja, described the initiative as “both urgent and strategic,” stressing that the university would continue to pursue holistic education that reinforces character development alongside academics.
In partnership with the African Council on Narcotics (ACON) and the Kano State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)—acting under the directive of its National Chairman, Brig-Gen Buba Marwa (retd), the event drew participants from the academic, public health, and law enforcement sectors.
Delivering a powerful keynote address, ACON President Rekpene Bassey charged institutions of learning to rise above complacency in tackling the menace of drug abuse.
“Universities must become sanctuaries of clarity,” he declared, “not breeding grounds for dependency and despair.”
Other speakers included Dr Aminu Shehu Ibrahim, a consultant psychiatrist with the Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Kano; the university’s Registrar; and the Dean of Student Affairs. They addressed the multidimensional impact of substance abuse, from mental health to academic disruption and administrative burden.
Students who participated in the talk shop hailed it as “eye-opening” and “life-affirming,” with many advocating for its institutionalisation as a regular fixture in the university calendar. Dambazau himself echoed this sentiment, calling for continuous engagement in drug prevention.
Capital City University Kano, which prides itself on being a 21st-century model institution, is gradually earning a reputation as a hub for civic responsibility and ethical leadership.
