ABEOKUTA – In a bid to address the growing concern over underage drinking, female employees of the Intercontinental Distillers Limited, known as the IDL Amazons, have begun an awareness campaign among school children in Ogun State to educate them on the dangers of alcohol consumption.
The initiative, organised for students at the Iganmode Grammar School, Ota, Ogun State, was part of IDL Amazons’ activities to mark this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD), aimed at raising awareness among students to prioritise their education, personal development, and future goals rather than seeing alcohol or drugs as symbols of social status.
Human Resources Manager and Team Lead of IDL Amazons, Bertina Bamgbose, in her remark at the event yesterday, stressed that the initiative aligns with IWD theme, “Give to Gain,” through supporting teenagers, whom she said, are facing increasing social pressures.
She said that the campaign was specifically targeted at students within the community where the company operates, noting that the organisation considers them valuable members of society whose future must be protected.
Bamgbose, while assuring that the campaign will not be a one-time event, said that hundreds of students had benefited from the initiative, adding that the IDL Amazons will partner with the state’s Ministry of Education to reach more schools in the coming weeks.
However, a psychiatrist, Victoria Elegbede, while addressing the students, urged them to abstain from drug abuse, stressing that their future potential far outweighs any temporary pleasure drugs may offer.
She also warned against underage alcohol consumption, emphasising that only with maturity can someone fully understand alcohol’s potential consequences, including liver damage and other health complications.
Some of the students, who participated in the exercise, expressed appreciation to the organisers, describing it as impactful and inspiring.
