By: Mishael Emmanuel
The fight against the abuse of drugs, human trafficking and cultism has been a long and challenging journey with many twists and turns.
Despite the hard fight put up by many noble minded ones across the length and breath of the globe the fight is far from over.
Former Olympics long jump champion, Chioma Ajunwa-Oparah, is one of those pacesetters and she has called for more global efforts in the campaign against illicit drug abuse, trafficking and cultism.
Ajunwa, the first Nigerian and black African woman to win an Olympic gold medal in a field event, made this bold call during Wednesday’s June 26 Chioma Ajunwa Foundation International Day against Illicit drugs and cultism campaign conference.
A senior officer of the Nigerian Police and only woman to compete at both the FIFA Women’s World Cup as a footballer and the Olympics as a track and field athlete, made this heartwarming call as part of activities marking the World Day against Illicit drug abuse and trafficking.
Ajunwa-Oprah submitted that the world was getting dangerous everyday as the use of dangerous drugs seem to be getting the upper hand in all aspects of life especially with the youths.
“It is tearing apart the fabrics of families, of our society and it is promoting violence in our communities worldwide. It leads to premature deaths and causes social dysfunctions. This is why we must intensify our efforts to mitigate its trafficking and abuse around the world.
“It is only an individual who is high on drugs that can take a knife and slit the throat of another man, drugs fuels violence. The consequences always end up bad, nothing good ever comes from drug abuse,” said Ajunwa Oparah.
Echoing Ajunwa-Oparah’s words, head of the Chinese consulate in Lagos, Ms Yan Yuqing said the fight against drug abuse and trafficking is a global responsibility and it must be intensified.
“We need to support Chioma Ajunwa in the campaign against drugs,” said Yuqing.
“The responsibility for combating drug abuse is for the international community and that is why China has various laws and legal tools to combat the social menace. China is at the forefront of international campaigns against abuse, trafficking and distribution. We call for more international cooperation to combat drug abuse.”
The conference was attended by dignitaries and celebrities including May Edochie, former Super Falcons Captain, Desire Opranozie.
Several schools, sports clubs from the Ikeja environs, of Lagos, Nigeria, were also present to mark the day.
In 2017, Ajunwa launched the Chioma Ajunwa-Okpara Foundation to discover new Nigerian stars in sports. The Foundation, in collaboration with the Abia State government, has been sponsoring Under-16 Athletics Championships, since early 2018.