DJs, stakeholders to sensitize youths on drug abuse
The musical and entertainment group, Deejays Association of Nigeria (DJAN), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with some other stakeholders to sensitise the youth to prevent drug abuse and other vices in the country through the use of musical instruments. The National President of DJAN, Prince Christian Edeh, said this when the association formally […]
The musical and entertainment group, Deejays Association of Nigeria (DJAN), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with some other stakeholders to sensitise the youth to prevent drug abuse and other vices in the country through the use of musical instruments.
The National President of DJAN, Prince Christian Edeh, said this when the association formally signed the MoU with three consulting firms on Thursday in Abuja.
He said the association will engage the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Ministry of Health, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and security agencies to implement the programme.
The firms are Emotions Brand House, Leadership Scorecard and 2GGS Impacts.
While Emotions Brand House and Leadership Scorecard are event planners, 2GGS Impacts is a capacity building firm.
Edeh said that the association would unveil ‘Deejays Against Drugs (DAD)’ programme in partnership with a consultant, 2GGS Impacts to sensitise Nigerian youths against drug abuse and other vices.
“When it comes to the teeming youth, almost 90 per cent of our members are below the age of 40 and they can be classified as youths. We are utilising their age and their energy; that is the reason why we signed the agreement.
“We are going to specialise in bringing projects and programmes that will reengage the youth. Presently, we have a programme which is called “Deejays Against Drugs (DAD)’’. You know that we just signed the MoU, and we will soon unfold the programme to ensure it comes on board.
“We are going to engage the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Federal Ministry of Health, NAFDAC and security agencies. So, DJAN is just like a newborn baby today because we want to break out from our usual social media platforms.
“We want the media to know that we are around. We want the world to know that we are out to change the world because music changes the world. It is an industry that speaks not just words but it speaks with rhyme and personality.
“This is because when youths are gathered, a deejay is a personality they are looking on to; a deejay can stop the music and they will complain why deejay? And he will say stop, don’t do this and don’t do that,” Edeh said.
According to him, when the music is good, they will listen to that deejay because they want to dance and enjoy more.
He said, “So, we are the king of entertainment and I want the world to know it and note it, including the artists, we play their songs and pay them stipend as royalty so that they will get something out of their intellectual property we are using.
He said that deejays remained the ones driving the music, saying “If we don’t play it, it is not going to be popular. So, everybody should begin to realise the importance of deejays in the creative industry.”
In his remarks, Mr Gibsen Ngoka, Team Leader, 2GGS Impacts, said his firm was in partnership with the DJAN to address the issue of drug abuse through the instrument of music.
He said, “We have been talking with DJAN before now, this is just to formalise everything. DAD is the programme that we want to use to prevent drug abuse which its penetration is beyond the normal level that is expected of any society.