Marwa to Youths: Be Drug-Free Ambassadors, Not Victims, as Peace Magazine Marks 23rd Anniversary

By Sadiq Abdulfatah

Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has urged the youths of Nigeria not to be part of the drug addict, but to rise as great ambassadors and advocates in the fight against drug abuse.

This was delivered as he addresses the First Class university graduates selected across the country as Special Guest of Honour at the 2nd Peace Magazine Honour Roll Ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday 28th October 2025.

Gen. Marwa congratulated the awardees for their exceptional academic feats and urged them to channel their brilliance into nation-building.

“Your achievements today are not just academic milestones; they represent the promise of a better Nigeria. But that promise can only be fulfilled if you remain steadfast, disciplined, and drug-free. Drug abuse is the biggest saboteur of destiny and the enemy of excellence.

The NDLEA boss described the menace of substance abuse as “a clear and present danger to the nation’s human capital and future.” he said.

“We are witnessing first-hand how illicit drugs derail futures, extinguish dreams, and lead talented youths down a path of mental instability, crime, and premature death. Drug abuse is not just a social problem; it is a national threat that undermines our future,” Marwa stated.

He urged the honoured graduates to use their intellectual influence to reinforce the message of abstinence and responsible living within their circles.

“With your academic attainment today, when you speak, your younger siblings, cousins, friends and community members listen. Use your success story as a tool to preach abstinence. Tell them that true success comes from a clear mind, not from chemical intoxication. Help us dispel the myths that drugs enhance creativity, aid concentration, or are a solution to life’s pressures.

Your academic achievement is the greatest proof that diligence and focus, not stimulants, are the true keys to distinction. Whether in your career, social gatherings, or religious forums, actively incorporate the message that drugs destroy individual potential and national stability”, he added.

Marwa further enjoined the graduates to become NDLEA Advocates of Excellence and Champions of the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), the national social advocacy initiative led by the Agency.

“Help us dispel the myths that drugs enhance creativity or relieve pressure. The fight against drug abuse must be a collective one—a whole-of-society effort. While we, at the NDLEA, continue to cut off supply by dismantling cartels and arresting traffickers, you must help us reduce demand through advocacy and positive influence,” he urged.

He commended the organisers of the event, Peace Magazine, for sustaining a platform that celebrates academic distinction and excellence, describing it as a “powerful counter-narrative” to social decay.