BY Dyepkazah Shibayan
Senate President Godswill Akpabio says he has never smoked cigarettes or quaffed alcohol his entire life.
Akpabio disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja while addressing students from different secondary schools across the country.
The schools had participated in a national quiz competition organised by the National Institute For Legislative And Democratic Studies (NILDS) that had the theme: ‘The Legislature And Democracy’.
The senate president said the students should strive to become visionary leaders by abstaining from habits that could affect their dreams.
“You should strive to become visionary leaders in the future by abstaining from things that would truncate your dreams and goals,” the number three citizen said.
“In my case, I have never smoked cigarettes or taken alcohol before. This is because, growing up, I listened to parental guidance.
“As a kid, I usually saw a man who would stagger on the road and fall into the gutters. I asked my mum who told me it was because he was drunk.
“Some people would drink alcohol and drive home while others would drink and drive to paradise.”
On his part, Abubakar Sulaiman, NILDS director-general, said private and public schools participated in the competition as it is the commitment of the national assembly to prioritise education.
“In a time where youth participation in civic, political, and governance spaces is either low or challenged by a lack of access to opportunities, the NILDS Quiz competition serves as a vehicle for engagement and advocacy to close the youth exclusion gap and raise leaders that would champion democratic processes and serve as change agents,” Suleiman said.
“Over the last seven editions of this competition, we have observed that schools that participate in the quiz at the state level and at the final stage are amply represented by girls and boys.”
The DG said education for boys and girls would drive Nigeria’s development.
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