Three students of Edopkolor Grammar School, Ojie Victor, Osamende Bright and Chambaivi Miracle, have been awarded scholarships and appointed ambassadors after finishing as the top three in the maiden Okpebholo/Marwa Mini Marathon Against Drug Abuse.
The race, organised by the Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Edo State Drug Control Committee, on Saturday, had over 100 students drawn from four public schools: Edopkolor Grammar School, Ogbe Secondary School, Oba Akenzua Secondary School and Oba Ewuare Grammar School, all in Benin City.
The race, tagged “Running Against Drug Abuse,” took off at Victor Uwaifo’s Creative Hub, Airport Road, passed through King Square and terminated at Victor Uwaifo’s Creative Hub.
The race was flagged off by the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dennis Idahosa, who was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Pius Alile.
He commended the NDLEA and the Edo State Drug Control Committee for the initiative, describing it as a strategic investment in the future of Edo youths. He reiterated the state government’s commitment to youth development and a drug-free society, announcing that the governor had approved a full one-year academic scholarship for the first-, second- and third-place winners.
In his welcome address, the Commander of the NDLEA Edo State Command, Mitchell Ofoyeju, described the event as historic and the first of its kind in the country, where a mini-marathon is dedicated solely to secondary school students to run against drug abuse. He said Edo State was leading and shining in the campaign aimed at addressing the drug problem in the state.
“We are running because drug abuse is destroying our children, the youth and even elders. It destroys the brain, the body, and the dreams of our young people. The fight against drugs is not limited to arrest and enforcement alone but a balanced approach that engages our youths positively through sports, education, and empowerment programmes. A healthy body is a drug-free body,” he said.
He said the first-prize winner, Ojie, who is in SS III, would also enjoy free registration for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination.
In his remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Drug Policy, Andrew Efe, commended the initiative and urged the students to remain ambassadors of the campaign beyond the marathon.
He thanked Governor Monday Okpebholo for his political will to address the drug problem in the state and assured participants that the Okpebholo-Marwa Marathon would be sustained.
“We decided to do something novel that will resonate with the students. This marathon also serves as a platform to recreate, engage in physical fitness exercise and a talent hunt for grassroots sports development, through which great athletes and Olympic champions could be identified while inculcating in students the values of a drug-free lifestyle,” the commander added.
In addition, the winners were decorated as War Against Drug Abuse Student Ambassadors for Edo State, carrying the anti-drug message to their schools, communities and on social media.
The NDLEA boss thanked partners who supported the event with medals and other assistance in the battle against drug trafficking and abuse. They include the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the DSS, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, the Ministries of Education and Health, the National Youth Service Corps, the Edo State Sports Commission, and school principals who released their students for the event.
The maiden marathon climaxed with the rallying call: “Run for health! Run for life! Run against drug abuse!
It is expected to become an annual event aimed at deepening grassroots awareness of the dangers of drug abuse among secondary school students in Edo State.
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