The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has counselled youths against drug abuse, saying it poses great health risk.
The Sultan gave the advice at the 7th Islamic Therapy Convention of Certified Therapists in Prophetic Medicine of the International Institute of Islamic Therapy (IIIT) Nigeria, on Saturday in Abuja.
Abubakar, who doubles as President, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, was represented by Prof. Ahmed Tijjani.
He commended the institute for contributing to the growth of the health sector by producing skilled health workers.
”I’m glad that this institute has churned out lots of graduates and I’m impressed with what I have seen.
”The menace of drug abuse, especially drug addiction, has become widespread in Northern Nigeria.
”Muslims in Northern Nigeria think it is only alcohol that Islam prohibit.
”It is not only alcohol but anything that intoxicates.
”Islam prohibits anything that hyperactivate the mind,” the Sultan said.
He added that there were pharmaceutical products use for therapeutics.
”However, if people deliberately consume these products purposely to get hyperactive, they have committed a sin.
According to the Sultan, drug addiction is more extensive and it’s more than alcohol addiction.
Earlier, the Provost of the institute, Mr Rauf Saheed said that the institute has trained over 500 health workers in prophetic medicine in the last seven years.
Saheed said the institute focus on promoting alternative medicine to enhance people’s health status.
”We will continue to complement the efforts of the Federal Government in the area tackling the menace of drug abuse.
He, however, called on the graduands to do the right thing and remember that they would account for their deeds on the day of reckoning.
”We are promoting alternative medicine in the worldview of Islam.
”Prophetic medicine is all about those things we have inherited from the prophetic traditions.
In a message sent to the occasion, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, the Director General, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), challenged the government and to take care of the youths.
Represented by his Special Adviser, Mr Otunba Lanre, Marwa emphasised the need for the government to reach out to the ” poorest of the poor and give them hope.”
He advised parents to get closer to their children and encourage them not to see failure as the end of life.
”The government, parents and society should pay more attention to the youths and save them from peer pressure,” Marwa said.
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