Drug abuse: Marwa calls for girl-child protection, seeks partnership with traditional rulers

THE Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), has called for the protection of the girl-child against systemic vulnerabilities that drive women and youth towards drug abuse and exploitation.

Marwa, who made the call in his remarks at the public presentation of a book, In The Shadow of the Neem Tree, written by his daughter, Barrister Mariam Marwa-Abdu, in Kaduna on Saturday, stated that “by protecting the girl-child, we protect the family, and by protecting the family, we secure the nation.”

He said the effort to protect the vulnerable in society is not one to be left to government and non-governmental organisations alone but must be embraced by every stakeholder, including traditional institutions.

According to the NDLEA boss, “As the Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, I see firsthand every day how systemic vulnerabilities like poverty, abuse, and lack of education drive women and youth towards drug abuse and exploitation. We cannot leave this battle to the government or non-governmental organisations alone.”

While commending the author for her courage, intellect, and compassion, and for making him, as her father, as well as the entire family, incredibly proud, Marwa urged the gathering to make the message conveyed on the pages of the book reach every corner of society.

He noted that the book, In The Shadow of the Neem Tree, tackles an issue that is both heartbreaking and urgent: the reality of young girls forced into early marriages and the devastating consequences that follow.

“The Neem Tree is a common sight in our Northern communities, providing shade from the scorching sun.

“Yet, ironically, under some of these very shades, silent traditional arrangements occur that eclipse the bright futures of our young daughters.

“Early marriage robs a girl of her childhood, her education, her health, and her potential to contribute meaningfully to society. Mariam uses her legal background and her storytelling prowess to shine a harsh but necessary light on these dark corners, forcing us to confront the bad outcomes of this practice.”

The author, Mrs Mariam Marwa-Abdu, who is the founder of the Women and Children’s Rights and Empowerment Foundation (WCREF), stated that the book is not just a piece of fiction but a literary manifesto of her lifelong mission.