Determined to rescue youths of Lagos State from drug abuse, crimes and other social vices, as well as have talented youths living in a drug-free society, Medichi First 3 (MF3), in collaboration with the Chinese community in Lagos, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), among others, is set to hold the Lagos Boxing Fest.
Speaking during a press conference in Lagos to announce the Boxing Festival, tagged: “Rescuing the Youth of Lagos Away From Drugs and Social Vices (Champion of Lagos),”one of the organizers of the festival, Ayodeji Olowo, said that the stakeholders were hit hard in the face with the stark reality of drug epidemic among youths in the state.
“I am well aware that we have experienced it first hand. All over the streets and corners of Lagos, we have seen a lot of youths with great potentials that are already in the drug game, hanging out in drug-related places.”
Lamenting that talented youths are languishing under the influence of drugs, Olowo said: “In our going out and coming around the outskirts of Lagos and beyond, we noticed that there is a lot of untapped youth potentials in Lagos as a whole.
“So we are now using this Lagos Boxing Fest to get the youths of Lagos out of the streets and dunghills, bringing them to sports to use their kinetic energy for something productive.
“Hence, the reason why we are organizing this Lagos Boxing Fest.”
Olowo, who noted that the programme will span across all local government areas: Ikeja, Badagry,Ikorodu,Lagos Island, and Epe, as well as Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs)of Lagos, added that it will be a regional programme, with the grand-finale taking place at the TBS on December 13 in Lagos Island.
He said that registration is free for everybody who will participate in the programme.
“Registration is free and there will definitely be a good reason for anybody that is worth their weight to come and participate and join us for this programme,” he noted.
Executive Chairman, Lagos Island Local Government Area, Taiwo Oyekan,who was represented by the Vice Chairman, Olatunji Folami, congratulated the organizers for bringing the programne to Lagos Island, saying that “it is a step in the right direction.”
He noted that boxing is also a tool that can be used to project Nigeria’s image.
He also assured of the local government’s readiness to partner with any organization to promote youth development, especially taking youths away from drug and social vices in society.
“If you look at our local government area, we have a resident population of about 250,000.
“We have a daily population of over three million people coming into Lagos Island. If you look around, you see a lot of youths hanging around on the streets, getting lured into so many things. Unemployment is not a reason for you to go into vices.
“We are very happy for this programme. At least, it will take some of our youthd out of these vices. And it will bring out the talents that some of them have,” the cice chairman added.
The LG boss announced that “in two weeks’ time, the first of all the regionals will be on Lagos Island. We are going to have the second regional in Ikeja.
“The third one will be in Ikorodu. The fourth one will be in Epe. And the fifth one will be in Badagry.
“So, after we get through to the regionals, then, the grand-finale will be held at the Tafwa Baniwa Square (TBS). And that will be scheduled for December 13th. Representatives of each local government area will be there by December 13th to participate and compete for the champion of Lagos.”
Akinsanya Abel, Assistant Director of NAFDAC, commended the theme and objective of the Festival, adding that it aligns with NAFDAC’s goal of rescuing youths from drugs, social vices, autism, to building champions and transforming lives.
“Honestly, this is really laudable and a welcome step in the right direction, because our youths need to be rescued.”
He said that the agency stands for so many innovations and activities that can help the public, including pubic enlightenment, “Because we believe that when someone is well informed, the person will make the right decision.
“If youths are well informed and they know the dangers of drugs, I tell you, they won’t try to go into it.
“We don’t want some champions to have an unfair advantage over others by using drugs. And that’s why we say, as we celebrate together, we celebrate courage, discipline, strength and the spirit of sportmanship. But as we step into the ring, let us remember that the greatest fight is not against an opponent, but against drug abuse.
“Drug abuse and misuse of performance-enhancing substances can destroy health, damage careers, undermine fair competition and even cost lives.”
Also present at the event were officials of the NDLEA, among others.
