Students Win NAFDAC Consumers Safety Awards

Six students, two each in the junior and secondary school categories, were on Monday presented prizes for winning the 2012 NAFDAC Secondary School Consumers Safety competition in Ebonyi State.

Presenting the awards in Abakaliki,  the head of NAFDAC office in Ebonyi, Mr Richard Anichukwu, advised Nigerian students as future leaders not to patronise fake, adulterated and unwholesome medicines.

He said that the NAFDAC, Consumer Safety Club (NCSC) was established in secondary schools to enlighten the youth on the activities and functions of the agency.

He said that knowledge acquired through membership of the club would help to spread messages on the dangers inherent in the consumption of unwholesome products.

Anichukwu said that the cardinal objective of establishing the club was to ensure early training of youths as vanguards of consumer protection of all goods and services.

“Our idea is to catch them young and use them as vanguards for the protection of consumers against unwholesome products.  You know these youths belong to the vulnerable groups, the knowledge acquired from the club will enable them to report makers and dealers of fake and adulterated products to the agency. Again, they will teach their parents how to identify fake and counterfeit products,’’ Anichukwu said.

He said that the club’s focus was also to educate the youth on the negative effects of fake products and promotion of quality among them.

“The prize award ceremony is an annual event to celebrate winners of the competition and to encourage other members of the club to study hard. Formation of the club has enabled NAFDAC to disseminate information to youths as well as educate them on the dangers inherent in the consumption of fake and adulterated foods and drugs,’’ he said.

The winners in the senior secondary school category were Okoro-Ogo Chinedu of Federal Government College, Okposi; Tochukwu Ani of Command Secondary School, Abakaliki; and Ugonna Utulor of Hope High International School, Abakaliki.

Winners in the junior category were Victoria Ajayi of Holy Ghost Foundation Schools, Abakaliki; Ogbu Chukwumeka of Government Secondary School, Afikpo, and Victory Chiamaka of Rightstep International Secondary School, Abakaliki.

Speaking on behalf of the winners, Ani commended NAFDAC for organising the competition and promised that members of the club would not relent in assisting the agency in disseminating information on fake products.