The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory, on Thursday, donated educational materials to some secondary schools in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River.
The Commander, Commodore Rotimi Oderemi, told newsmen that the donation was part of the navy’s way of identifying with host communities.
“The gesture is borne out of the command’s kinetic approach towards identifying with members of its host communities.
“The educational wellbeing of the youth in our host communities is of utmost importance to us,” he said.
Oderemi said that beyond the navy’s constitutional role of protecting the territorial integrity of the nation, the force also undertook public service projects.
“I am optimistic that this support will go a long way to enhance the educational pursuits of the benefiting students.
The Commander urged the schools to make judicious use of the items donated to them.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the navy used the opportunity of the donation to embark on anti drug abuse campaign in the area
Speaking during the campaign, Roseline Ada, a Deputy Commander of Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, urged the students to stay away from illicit drugs in the interest of their well-being.
“Use of illicit drugs can adversely affect your educational pursuit. It can make you to become a detriment to the society around you
“Drugs must be taken following a doctor’s advice, using drugs without medical expert’s prescription can lead to harmful effects.
“There is always a correlation between drug abuse and crime in the society. As students, you are warned to steer clear all prohibited drugs,” she said.
In her remark, Mrs Inyang Henshaw, the Head, Administration, Bakassi Local Government Council, thanked the navy for the gesture.
Henshaw described the educational materials and the anti drug abuse campaign as critical to the academic and moral upbringing of the students.
She urged other stakeholders to borrow a leaf from the navy’s geture and support the academic and emotional growth of the younger generation.
The benefiting schools were: Community Secondary School, Esighi, Migrant Technical and Science School, Ifiang Ayong and Government Secondary School, Ifiang Nsung.(NAN)
