By Amb. Sunny Irakpo
Silec Initiatives, being one of the leading voices in the collaborative fight against drugs and substance abuse in Nigeria, have been in the forefront of working with different organizations in the battle against the proliferation of hard drugs. Over the years, we have made it a point of duty to call on civil society groups, schools, the government and religious bodies to join the fight against this enemy of our youths and our dear nation. Our many years for this advocacy attracted religious bodies making us gain support of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion.
Due to our divine relationship with the Anglican Communion, they responded swiftly to our recent appeal to continue with the anti-drug crusade and awareness creation on the negative impacts of drugs in the society. The first response received to this call was from the Diocesan Bishop and Missioner, Archbishop Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos Church of Nigeria, (Anglican Communion), The Most Revd Dr. Humphrey Bamisebi Olumakaiye (Ph.D), who took to the streets of Lagos with Silec Initiatives and the Diocesan Youths to openly campaign against this cankerworm. Just last year September, the Primate of all Nigeria Anglican Communion, The Most Revd Henry Chukwudum Ndukuba launched Nigerian Anglicans War Against Drug Abuse and Addiction with a mandate for all Dioceses and parishes to take a proactive steps in helping to address this issue of drugs amongst young people. It is in that light that Silec Initiatives whose works are visible to all to see have received commendations and more invitations to speak on this issue of national and international importance.
Recently, to the glory of God and benefits to humanity, we got commendations after the presentation to the Standing Committee Meeting of the Church of Nigeria, which was held last year, where a paper presentation “On the Monster of Drug Addiction; A Battle for our Future” was presented by my humble self. In that highly exalted platform, made a call once again call on the church to step in to help address this enemy of our youths and the entire society. Got the needed attention overwhelmingly from from the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) is a development that’s progressive for a nation.
As Diocese of Ogbia Church of Nigeria, Bayelsa State sets to host us for #BAYELSASAYNOTODRUGS (Ogbia In Focus), at the parish level, serious commitments to this cause have also been shown as the Church of the Ascension, Lekkki- Lagos under the Ven. Philip Adegoke Akinwande, the presiding Vicar and the Director of Prayers, Diocese of Lagos under the Episcopacy of the The Most Revd. Dr Humphrey Bamisebi Olumakaiye the Diocesan Bishop and Missioner, Archbishop Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos, declared his support for the Silec Initiatives where he has released his pulpit to us to teach on “Dealing with Drug Addiction” during church services to all members in order to have first hand information about this time bomb called Drug Abuse, which obviously has been destroying the lives of promising Nigerian youths. The Venerable who share the passion for the youths to be properly tutored as far as social vices are concerned, called on members to get the needed information through this teaching.
In his words, Over the years, I have seen this young man so passionate and unrepentantly to the best of my knowledge in this course ,a social crusader who keep living for humanity by being amongst the major stakeholders leading the fight against drug abuse in Nigeria. As a young man whom I know with that authoritative voice, with wide knowledge who keep gaining recognition at home and abroad, is our very own Sunny Irakpo, we are indeed Blessed to have him for this nation and God’s kingdom.
Sunny Irakpo thanked the Youth-friendly Vicar for the opportunity and privilege to talk to the congregation on how they can avoid the temptation of going into drugs totally.
Irakpo took his teaching from the Biblical point of view stating that drug abuse is as old as man and stated from the old testament as recorded in Genesis 9: 20-26 where Noah whom God gave His covenant to build an ark where God instructed him to lead creatures male and female into the ark to avert destruction.
Naoh been husbandman later fell from grace as a result of drugs and when he became drunk, the result was immorality and family troubles as a result of the curse he pronounced on one of his sons.
Irakpo who went further to state very clearly that in the new testament, Jesus Christ also gave us an instruction as related by Apostle Paul in 1corinthians 6:10 that drunkards will not inherit the kingdom of God.
In his teaching he made it known that the bible has over (80-100) scriptural pages where drug consumption and it’s consequences were highlighted clearly which cannot be exhausted as a result of time factor.
The Silec Boss Sunny Irakpo opined that drugs has no regards for anyone including religion and everyone is prone to it. It was also mentioned that addiction starts from the point of drug experimentations before it leads to the state of drug dependence as a result of constant use. And that addiction is a three generation disease that’s not curable but manageable. That’s at the point of addiction, families can watch all their hard earned resources go down the drain as a result of just one child that fell into the den of drug dependence, and according to Proverbs 23:21,states that drugs leads to poverty.
Emphasizes that parents should keep an eye on their children to help identify any form of signs at the beginning of drug intake, members was indeed exposed to the dangers of drugs and substance abuse.
In conclusion Irakpo said that the best approach to drugs is total abstinence and ability to SAYNOTODRUGS”, no matter the pressure and temptation to engage in such ungodly act since the mandate of God to mankind is to inherit the kingdom of God.
Worried by the drug trends in the country, dished out statistics to back our message. I advised young people to stay away from drugs which brought kings down in the Bible and still bringing kings down in our contemporary society. All of us must complement the efforts of the government in our collective responsibility to make our society better than we met it. It became an interactive session as members asked sensitive questions on how drug addiction can be dealt with decisively, as we provide opportunity for counselling.
Amb. Sunny Irakpo is a U.S Government Sponsored Exchange Alumni(IVLP), Department of State, Certified by the UNODC on Drug Prevention and Care Sensitization. He’s the Founder/President, Silec Initiatives,Youths and Anti-drug drug Advocate, and Counsellor.
