Chioma Ajunwa-Oparah, Nigeria’s gold medallist in long jump at Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, has cautioned Nigerian youths against illicit drugs.

Ms Ajunwa-Opara made the call at a conference organised by her foundation, Chioma Ajunwa Foundation, to commemorate the 2023 edition of the United Nations Day against drug abuse and trafficking held at the Police College Ikeja, Lagos.

She cautioned the youths, including athletes, to avoid illicit drug use because of its inherent negative effects on their health.

Ms Ajunwa-Oparah stated that the conference became necessary to create awareness, enlighten and sensitise the youths against illicit drugs and cultism, especially among students, athletes, and security agencies.

“This fight which my foundation started six years ago, was borne out of the desire to make our youths realise that there is no gain in using illicit drugs as it can only ruin their careers and destroy lives,” she stated. 

The Olympian added, “Therefore, the conference today is a patriotic effort and also a timely measure taken by the Chioma Ajunwa Foundation to help our youths escape from the claws of the temptation posed by illicit drug use.”

Ms Ajunwa-Oparah revealed that the issue of illicit drug use among “our youths is becoming alarming, worrisome and very complex because of its adverse effects on the generality of our society.”

She affirmed that people in Nigeria who used drugs faced stigma and discrimination, which harmed their physical and mental health, thus inhibiting them from accessing the help they needed to overcome the effect of illicit drug use.

(NAN)