The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), has called on Nigerian youths to take advantage of skills acquisition and empowerment programmes as a way to avoid drug abuse and other social vices.
Marwa made the call on Thursday, February 5, 2026, in Abuja while speaking as the Special Guest of Honour at the launch of a youth empowerment and skills acquisition programme organised by Grassroots Bridge Builders, a non-governmental organisation.
He commended the initiative, noting that it aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which prioritises youth empowerment, job creation, skills development, and social inclusion.
According to him, training and empowering 10,000 young Nigerians through practical skills is a direct contribution to government efforts aimed at reducing unemployment, poverty, drug abuse, and crime.
“This is not just charity; it is capacity building, character development, future protection, and prevention from drug abuse and its consequences on our youth and society,” Marwa said, adding that such initiatives deserve national recognition.
The NDLEA boss stressed that government alone cannot address all societal challenges, urging NGOs, civil society organisations, faith-based groups, community leaders, the private sector, and well-meaning Nigerians to support similar programmes.
He also encouraged stakeholders to partner with the NDLEA in designing interventions that give young people skills, dignity, purpose, and a sense of belonging.
Addressing the youths present at the event, Marwa described them as solutions rather than problems, urging them to embrace empowerment opportunities, stay away from drugs, and invest in their personal development and the future of the country.
He congratulated Grassroots Bridge Builders for demonstrating that youth empowerment is the most sustainable way to secure Nigeria’s future and reaffirmed the NDLEA’s support for all genuine, non-partisan initiatives that promote skills acquisition, youth development, and drug-free communities.
