From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
The Rotary Club of Bompai, Kano, in collaboration with Kano state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and the Young Evolving and Smart (YES) Concepts, have ensured the release and training of about 110 juvenile offenders from Kano state Remand Home,, Goron Dutse, between December 1, 2021 and February 24, 2022.
The President-elect of Rotary Club Bompai, Rotn. Miriam Obi, disclosed this to journalists during the closing ceremony (third edition) of the Club’s Annual Interventions for Juvenile Delinquents held at Kano state Remand Home, Goron Dutse, on Thursday, tagged: “Good Behaviour Is Answer To Good Living.”
According to her, the third-phased intervention include: correctional lecture sessions for 130 juvenile offenders held on 27 November, 2021; three months vocational skills acquisition training held from December 6, 2021 to February 20, 2022.
She added that the Rotary Club Bompai influenced the training and release of 15 juvenile delinquents on December 1, 2021; 45 as at December 12, 2021 and 50 who would be rescued before the end of the closing ceremony on February 24, 2022.
The Executive Director of YES Concepts, Bala Baliqis, said the Remand home had about 130 juvenile offenders when the three-month programme started.
” As at now we have 95 of them here because as we free some of them, others are brought in. Other ones were released through this project. The Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development assisted in releasing about 30 of them.
“The offenders stay between six months and one year, depending on their offences. Homicide, rape, armed robbery are considered as major offences, while criminal conspiracy, public nuisance, among others are considered as minor offences.
“We have trained 70 of them in solar installation, barbing, soap making and a range of other skills acquisition programmes. We do correctional lecture section. We follow up on their cases after release. I am happy to inform you that most of them who were released are now in school, while others are managing their personal businesses.”
The Rotary Club Bompai also used the occasion to launch a campaign against drug abuse tagged: “Change Your Lifestyle, Say No To Drugs.”
The President-elect, Mrs Obi, said the campaign is aimed at addressing some identified issues that leads to drug abuse through advocacy, sensitization on dangers of drug abuse and rehabilitation of abusers.
She further stated that, “according to UNODC, 14.4 percent of Nigerians between he ages of 15 to 64 years engage in drug abuse; while 27.7 percent of that 14.4 percent of drug abusers in Nigeria are youths.
“There are about two million drug abusers in Kano state representing 16 per cent of the entire population. This means that one in six persons between the ages of 15 and 64 years abuse drugs.”
She added that, “Rotary is a club for men and women designed to help the less privileged. What we are doing here today is tohelp these young ones get a better future. Today, we are also launching our campaign against drug abuse. For 117 years , we have been meeting the needs of the people through humanitarian services. We call on well-meaning Nigerians to join the club.”
In his brief remarks, the outgoing President of the Club, Rotn. Adewale Koiki said, “this event is made to contribute to humanity. Part of our project is to give hope to the inmates. We have been able to train some of the children in various skills in the past three months. We hope that with the acquisition of the skills, they will be able to change their ways for good.
“Part of our programmes today is to launch the campaign of Rotary club of Bomapai, campaigning against drug abuse in collaboration with NDLEA. Our main aim is to contribute to humanity.”
Also speaking, the Deputy Director in charge of Social Development in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Malam Mohammed Bala, advised youths and children not to engage in negative affairs that lead to abuse of drug.
“All hands must be on desk to save our children from the menace of drug abuse. Government on its part is doing everything possible to discourage the menace of drug abuse among children and youths in the state,” he added.
Highlights of the occasion include lectures by resources persons from NDLEA, testimonies and presentations by repentant and empowered juvenile offenders.
