Nearly 180 senior secondary school students from six schools in Ogun State have pledged to reject cultism, substance abuse, and other social vices following a sensitisation programme organised by the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), Ogun State Command, in partnership with The Global Citizens NG.
The leadership summit, held at the Star Diamond School Hall in Ifo, Ogun State, brought together students, parents, school administrators, and experts from different fields to promote positive values and strengthen youth leadership through an early-intervention approach aimed at preventing crime and social vices.
According to an official signed statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Command, DSP Oluseyi B. Babaseyi, the Coordinator of POCACOV Ogun State Command, ASP Oluborode Opeyemi, said the initiative was designed to combat the growing threats of cultism, substance abuse, and deceptive gang recruitment tactics targeting young people.
Speaking on the theme, “Personal Leadership and Its Role in Building a Safe and Secure Society,” ASP Oluborode urged students to take responsibility for their decisions, thoughts, and actions, stressing that a lack of self-leadership exposes young people to harmful influences and criminal tendencies.
The statement noted that the summit also featured keynote presentations by Dr. Julius Osimen, who spoke on global leadership principles, while mental health advocate Mrs. Florence Freddy and scholar Mr. Taiwo Oyedele delivered sessions on psychological resilience, character development, and responsible citizenship.
Participants engaged in an interactive question-and-answer session, after which parents and educators were encouraged to strengthen early-intervention mechanisms capable of identifying and addressing behavioural concerns among students before they escalate.
The summit concluded with the students taking a collective pledge to shun cultism, substance abuse, criminality, and other social vices, while committing themselves to serve as peer advocates for positive values, safety, and responsible leadership within their schools and communities.
