…strengthen fight against cultism, drug abuse, other social vices
The Lagos State Security Trust Fund Campaign Against Crime, Cultism and Other Vices (LSSTF-CACCOV) and Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) have forged a stronger partnership aimed at tackling cultism, drug abuse, crime and other social vices threatening young people within and around the institution.
The renewed collaboration followed a special appreciation and partnership meeting between the Governing Council and management of YABATECH, led by the Rector, Dr. Engr. Ibraheem Adedotun Abdul, and the leadership of LSSTF-CACCOV.
The engagement came on the heels of a recent LSSTF-CACCOV sensitisation programme that reached more than 1,000 fresh students of the institution with messages on the dangers of cultism, drug abuse and other criminal activities.
The Rector, Dr. Abdul, described the initiative as a timely intervention aimed at protecting the institution’s most valuable assets—its students.
Abdul, who described the students as “diamonds” that must be protected, polished and prepared to shine, warned that the destruction of young people could have devastating consequences for the future of any nation.
He commended LSSTF-CACCOV for choosing YABATECH as one of the institutions for its preventive security campaign, noting that the initiative aligned with the college’s commitment to safeguarding students and creating a conducive environment for learning.
The Rector also expressed particular appreciation for the leadership of the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of LSSTF, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, an alumnus of YABATECH, whose position at the helm of the state’s security trust fund, he said, had created a valuable bridge between the institution’s alumni community and the wider security architecture of Lagos State.
Abdul further called for enhanced security support for the institution, including increased police presence and additional patrol vehicles, citing the security challenges associated with the college’s surrounding environment.
“We sit at the centre of a quadrangle of cultism. The Jimbo boys are around the corner, the Valley boys are there, the Afro-Belgian hoodlums are there, and warding them away is a big task which we have been confronting frontally, but we need additional support to make this place safe.”
According to him, stronger security collaboration would not only protect students but also enhance the reputation of the institution and give its alumni greater confidence in its future.
The LSSTF-CACCOV State Coordinator, Dr. Moses Oladimeji, described the engagement as personally significant, noting that he is also an alumnus of YABATECH.
“I see you as my fathers and mothers, alumnus of this same college. You trained me, and I’m here today, and I’m one of your success stories,” Oladimeji said.
He explained that LSSTF-CACCOV was created to strengthen the preventive side of security through education, advocacy and mentorship, stressing that security agencies could not succeed in isolation.
“We believe in empowering young people before they become actual perpetrators of crime,” he said.
Oladimeji recalled the recent freshmen orientation programme, where more than 1,000 students were sensitised on cultism, drug abuse and other social vices, with instructional materials and food packs also distributed.
He proposed that the campaign be expanded beyond fresh students to cover ND1, ND2, HND1, HND2 and part-time students, while establishing sustainable CACCOV structures across the institution.
Among the proposed initiatives are the establishment of LSSTF-CACCOV Clubs, anti-cultism billboards and strategic security-awareness signages across the campus.
The proposed initiative will also provide students and members of the college community with access to designated LSSTF security tip lines for reporting security threats.
Oladimeji explained that information received through the designated WhatsApp channel would be quickly escalated to the appropriate security agency for necessary action.
“It’s a WhatsApp line that within 1–3 minutes that a message gets to our office, it will be redirected to the appropriate security agency that will take the matter up.”
He stressed that drug abuse remained one of the critical issues requiring urgent attention, noting that substance abuse could expose young people to criminal activities and derail their educational and personal development.
The Assistant Coordinator, Uzezi Akinwoleola, similarly reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to youth empowerment and preventive security.
“At LSSTF-CACCOV, we believe in empowering young people. Our mandate is very clear about educating youths against the dangers of crime. We believe youths should be empowered before they become perpetrators of crime.”
She described YABATECH as a strategic partner rather than merely a stakeholder, recalling that the recent freshmen orientation had provided an opportunity to engage more than 1,000 students.
