All Prospective FUO Students Shall Undergo Compulsory Drug Test Before Matriculation – Says Adias

By Majesty Inegbagha

 The Management of Federal University, Otuoke (FUO) says henceforth all prospective students shall undergo compulsory drug test before matriculation, as part of its drive to curb illicit drug addiction and substance abuse amongst youths.

From left - Right Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) Prof. Chris Onyem and the Secretary, Bayelsa State Peace Architecture(SPA), Dr Inebaraton Preye.

 

 

 

 

FUO's Vice-Chancellor, Prof Teddy Adias, made this pronouncement when he played host to a peace advocacy group under the aegis of the State Peace Architecture (SPA) in his office at the new Senate Complex of the Federal University, Otuoke, in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) Prof. Chris Onyema, who stood in for the VC, assured the peace advocates of the institution's zero tolerance to drug abuse amongst students as he commended SPA for her selfless initiative to curb drug induced violence and criminality in citadels of learning across the state.

"This is a worthy initiative by SPA Bayelsa. And here in FUO, we share your vision for peace in the Niger Delta through a revolutionary campaign against substance abuse common amongst our youths. That's why begining from next session Federal University Otuoke has concluded plans to ensure that all prospective students undertake a compulsory drug test. And at random and before graduation, we shall henceforth make it a norm in this university so as to curtail the menace of drugs induced crimes." He stated.

Members of the Bayelsa State Peace Architecture (SPA) who went round the campuses of FUO, with music blarring through loud speakers and jiggles against drug abuse, took the peace advocacy campaign to the doorsteps of the students highlighting the dangers of drug abuse and its consequences.

The SPA delegation was received by the DVC alongside other management staff, including the Bursar, the Deans of Students Affairs and Medical Laboratory Faculty, Dr Eyinimi Agoro; Student Union Government President of FUO, and the Secretary of the Bayelsa State Students' Management Committee.

Secretary, Bayelsa State Peace Architecture(SPA), Dr Inebaraton Preye, who spoke on behalf of the SPA multi m-stakeholder delegation reeled out the main thrust of the visit to include:

"the menace of drug abuse among our youths (now extended to primary school pupils and students in basic classes) is not only alarming but destructive. The trend, if not checked, is capable of destroying the next generation.

"Regrettably, the nexus between drugs and crime cannot be over emphasized as users are always willing tools for violence. Hence, the need to nip this societal menace in the bud for stakeholders to collaborate in mitigating drug use amongst youths.

According to him: "we are optimistic of catching them young. Parents and guardians should take their roles as care givers and monitor seriously."

The delegation also visited the Dean of Students affairs (Prof (Mrs) Teibowei) in her office at the East Campus of FUO.

The Deputy Dean, Dr Gilbert Ligho, President of the Students Union Government (SUG) - Zolo Tolozikizibe - led the SPA Advocacy team through some Classrooms and lecture halls around the campuses; as SPA members adorned with placards, banners, T-shirts and caps, distributed various paraphernalia with inscriptions on the dangers of drug abuse.

The Bayelsa State Peace Architecture, (SPA) is an Advocacy body with support from Search For Common Ground (SFCG) and her partners, EU, SDN and PIND) towards facilitating peace advocacy initiatives in the Niger Delta through a community centred approach to curbing violence and criminality using a multi dimensional bottom-top stakeholders approach.

Recall that the Bayelsa SPA delegation, had taken a similar peace advocacy against drug abuse to Niger Delta University (NDU) at Ammassoma in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, as part of its Sustainable Plan Initiative, approved by SFCG as a fall out of the two-day Regional Coordination Conference which held in Warri, Delta State on Tuesday, July 1-3, 2025, including delegates from the three states of Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa.

A week after the SPA Bayelsa peace advocacy against drug abuse to students and management of NDU, in the Central Senatorial District, the Bayelsa State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), bursted a drug baron in the Amassoma axis, responsible for supply chain of psycho-active drugs to students of the higher institution and its environs.

The SPA Initiative to FUO is the second phase, while the delegation is billed to embark on a third phase on Thursday, August, 6, 2025, to the University of Africa, Toru Orua, in Bayelsa West Senatorial District.