A foremost Foundation known as Emma Njoku Foundation has launched an Initiative, "Friends of the Brain", Initiative aimed at creating awareness and embarking on sensitization programs and projects that people may know the dangers in drug abuse.
The project which would be carried out in tertiary, secondary schools and communities as club would in no small measure help re-orient the younger generation on reasons why they shouldn't be involved in drugs, and also assist those already in it to stop.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, endorsed Emma Njoku Foundation as NDLEA WADA Advocate in River State.


The agency's boss, Brig. Gen. MB Marwa, OFR (rtd) made this known in Port-Harcourt while delivering an address at a One Day seminar on Mental Health Intervention tagged: "Friends of the Brain Club", organized by Emma Njoku Foundation at the Amphitheater, Rivers State University, Port-Harcourt.

Speaking on behalf of him, the Deputy State Commander, Mark-Balm Iduama, DCN charged parents, adults, and indeed the entire public on the need to be taught how to handle drug use or abuse especially as it concerns identifying some behavioral issues like, lack of interest in hobbies or family activities, sudden or extreme changes in friends, hostile or uncooperative attitude and secrecy, stealing and sometimes use of cover-ups like mosquito coils even in the afternoons.


The honourable Minister of Health, Dr. E. Osagie Ehanire, MD, FWACS, while declaring the event open lauded the efforts of the Foundation in routing the spectacular direction that harps on the nation's well-being as drugs tend to destroy the younger generation.

The minister ably represented by the Chief Medical Director of University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Prof Henry Ugboma in his words said, "the future and productivity of any nation depend on her younger population, especially where the youths constitute the majority or a significant proportion of the population. Anything that threatens the well-being of the youth, therefore, must be addressed as a matter of urgency.

"Youths, in general, face challenges especially adolescents and younger adults. These challenges if not appropriately dealt with can lead to mental health problems or cause them unhealthy behaviour as coping mechanisms. Untreated mental health challenges and substance abuse problems are some of the greatest threats to youths achieving their lives' aspirations and potentials".


Earlier, the Program Manager, Emma Njoku Foundation, Maxwell Ezelagu Esq, giving details about the foundation stated that recently a survey revealed that about a tenth of adults, an estimated 450 million people worldwide are affected by mental disorders at any one time.
Sadly, he said, they now account for about 12.3% of the global burden of disease, and it is anticipated that this figure will have risen by 15% two years ago.

"Back to Nigeria, a critical look at most screaming headlines since the past 2 months will point to one critical thing, which is mental health. Only recently, precisely on the 18th of July, 2022, the entire media space was taken over by the sad demise of award-winning Nollywood star, Ada Ameh whose death was attributed to mental health-related issues. Similarly, one of Nigeria's finest veteran musicians and gospel singers Chief Ebenezer Obey lost his son to the cold hands of death, and in commemorating the Late Chief Olayinka Obey-Fabiyi, he is kick-starting a new ministry tagged "Freedom from alcoholism and drug addiction ministry", as part of efforts to join forces with the war against alcoholism and drug addiction, especially amongst young Nigerians and those in the Diaspora.

"Just this month, 7th August 2022, a 500-level student of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State, identified as Modestus Hyacinth Egbulefu jumped from a 3 storey building and died on the spot after consuming a substance believed to be crystal meth ( meth). The purpose of harping on these unfortunate deaths is not to create fear in us, but to raise our consciousness on the harmful effect of drugs and the need to specially care for our brains and by extension our mental well-being.

"The launching of the friends of the Brain Club as a vehicle and panacea towards actualizing our redemption mission is in keeping with our vision and in fulfillment of the generational change by Frantz Fanon when he stated that "every generation must out of its relative obscurity discover it's mission, either to fulfill it or betray it".

Similarly, the Founder of the Foundation, Emma Njoku Esq, LLB, LLM, Bl, in his welcome address pointed out that the "Friends of the Brain Club", is an initiative of ENF geared towards quality advocacy/ awareness campaigns which is targeted to help raise consciousness of the adverse effect of drug abuse and the need for healthy living.
" It is hoped to transform to better livelihood and reduction in the abuse of illicit drugs in our society.

"As we launch this club in tertiary, secondary schools and communities, we hope that this advocacy will impact positively on our future generations and provide a base for the understanding of proactive ways for a better society", he said.

He however disclosed that the foundation has a working partnership with the office of the Chief Registrar of Rivers State University Student Union Government.

Dignitaries in attendance are, Sir Emmanuel Nwauju, Representative of Permanent Secretary and Hon commissioner of Youths and Sports, Sylverline Ibama, For Hon. Commissioner of Education, Dr. Imoh Ukong, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Enyidah Nonyerim,Head of Department, Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, Rumuigbo, Rivers State, Dr. Richards Ebeh, Clinical Psychologist, Imo State University, Owerri, Mark Balm Eugene (DCN), Representative of Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Chairman, NDLEA), Chief Benson Agadaga- Chief of Staff, Bayelsa State.