By Idibia Gabriel, Kaduna
An academic institution, Outstanding Groomers Academy Nursery and Primary School in Makera, Kaduna State, has hosted the Tobacco and Substance Abstinence Club, an initiative designed to teach children the dangers of substance misuse at an early age.
The program, led by internationally recognized Substance Use Disorder (SUD) prevention professional and 2024 Ecolink Institute of Well-being Award winner, Margaret Kwa’ada Julius, introduced poetry as a powerful tool for engaging children in prevention education.
Research has indicated that children in Nigeria are often exposed to smoking and local alcohol at a young age, sometimes as a means to cope with hunger.
Julius, a three-time World Health Organization (WHO) World No Tobacco Day Award winner, said that early intervention is crucial to addressing substance use before it becomes a lifelong struggle.
“Children, especially orphans and those with physical disabilities, face deep emotional trauma. Unlike children who have parents to lean on, orphans grow up in environments where even the name ‘orphanage’ can feel like a heavy burden,” she explained.
Julius emphasized the importance of ensuring children with physical disabilities are integrated into inclusive learning environments, rather than being placed in institutions designed for mental health disorders.
A touching moment during the event was when some orphans confidently recited a prevention poem, their faces lit up with joy amid their chants that “we will continue reciting the poem.”
The poetry-based approach not only teaches children about substance use prevention but also provides an emotional outlet for them to express their feelings.
“Poetry makes prevention fun and engaging. It also helps caregivers and educators recognize children who may be struggling emotionally, allowing them to step in with support,” Julius said.
In addition to poetry, the foundation provided free Abstinence Club-branded jackets to participating children and promised to add more.
These jackets serve as more than just clothing—they represent a sense of belonging and vision for the future.
“When a child wears the jacket, they feel part of something meaningful. It gives them confidence, a sense of purpose, and the dream of becoming a prevention advocate in their community,” she explained.
The foundation plans to transform its prevention poems into illustrated booklets and animated videos, ensuring nationwide accessibility to SUD education for children.
Julius called on the Federal Government and relevant institutions to take proactive steps in supporting vulnerable children in several ways, including separating those with physical disabilities from those with mental disorders in institutional care, ensuring appropriate support for each group; improving school infrastructure by providing accessible toilets and other essential facilities for physically challenged students in both public and private schools;and reducing the stigma surrounding orphans by ensuring they receive education alongside other children, rather than being placed in institutions labeled as “orphanages.”
She further suggested making skill-based education a core part of all school curricular instead of limiting vocational training to specialized centers.
“If every child, regardless of their background or abilities, receives proper prevention education and skill training, we can create a drug-free society,” Julius emphasized.
Julius encouraged orphanage homes and schools to adopt names that inspire confidence and a sense of belonging, rather than reinforcing the feeling of abandonment.
Also speaking, head mistress of Outstanding Groomers Academy Nursery and Primary School, Mrs Joy Akandu, welcomed the initiative, calling it a “fresh and inspiring approach” to prevention education.
She noted that the children were deeply engaged and expressed the school’s commitment to ensuring the club remains active even as she promised to provide an hygiene loo in the school to accommodate children with physical disability .
The Tobacco and Substance Abstinence Club, which won the prestigious 2024 WHO World No Tobacco Day Award, is rapidly expanding, bringing poetry-driven prevention education to schools across Nigeria.
