By Chidinma Iroegbu
Parents, schools, government, security agencies, the media and communities have been urged to work together to curb rising social vices, with experts insisting that collective action remains the most effective way to build a safer society.
The call was made at the Beyond the Veil: Realities of Social Ills webinar organised by the Udukhotse Foundation, where participants examined the root causes of kidnapping, drug abuse and other social challenges affecting young people.
Delivering the keynote address, Vice-Chancellor of University of Abuja, now Yakubu Gowon University, Prof. Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, urged youths to shun anti-social behaviour and embrace integrity, responsible citizenship and nation-building, stressing that lasting national development depends on positive values.
Special Adviser to the Cross River State Governor and former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Emmanuel Ogbeche, said the fight against social vices must begin with intentional parenting, proper guidance and value-based education before children are exposed to harmful influences. Ogbeche warned that peer pressure has expanded into the digital space, urging parents, teachers and other stakeholders to educate young people on the dangers of online influences while promoting honesty and hard work.
Chief Executive Officer of Haybravo Security Nigeria Limited, Chief Haruna Yusuf (CSP Rtd.), said criminal behaviour develops gradually through association with bad company, calling for early intervention and stronger family values to stop young people from embracing crime, while former Executive Chairman of Etsako East Local Government Council, Princess Benedicta Attoh, urged Nigerians to report suspicious activities, saying, “Kidnapping begins in the mind,” and warning against celebrating unexplained wealth or ignoring obvious warning signs.
Furthermore, Chief Executive Officer of Sentinel Media, Senator Iroegbu, described kidnapping as a societal challenge requiring both preventive and punitive measures, adding that the media must continue to educate young people on the consequences of crime. He charged youths to “choose life and live.”
Other contributors, including Prof. Wesley Daniel Nafarnda of University of Abuja, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo-Anani, Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Edo State, Hon. Eugenia Abdallah, Edo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, and Dame Vera Sado, APC Executive Chairmanship Candidate, also advocated stronger partnerships to discourage criminality and promote positive values.
Host and Founder of the Udukhotse Foundation, Dr. Lois Otse Adams, thanked participants for supporting the advocacy and urged sustained collaboration among families, schools, government, security agencies, the media and communities to build a safer and more responsible society.