The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Anatu Anne Seidu Bogobiri, has advised students to resist negative peer influence and avoid drug abuse, warning that such habits could derail their future aspirations and potential.
According to her, young people represent the future of the nation and must guard their dreams and ambitions jealously against influences that could lead them into destructive behaviours.
Bogobiri made the remarks while addressing students from selected senior high schools and tertiary institutions during the NHIA Campus Connect Initiative, organised by Nubia Events in partnership with the NHIA at St. John Bosco College of Education in Navrongo on Friday, May 29.
She acknowledged the numerous challenges confronting young people today and urged them to remain focused despite societal pressures.
“The truth is that being young today is not easy. There is pressure everywhere, pressure to succeed, pressure to fit in, pressure from friends, and pressure from social media,” she said.
Bogobiri noted that such pressures often push young people into experimenting with drugs under the misconception that substance use can help them cope with stress and life challenges.
She cautioned students against making choices that could negatively affect their future prospects.
“I have seen brilliant students lose opportunities because of decisions they made. Your years in school are meant to prepare you for greatness, not to destroy your potential,” she stated.
The NHIA Deputy CEO further stressed that the Authority remains committed to promoting the health and well-being of all Ghanaians, particularly young people, through various interventions, including the government’s free primary healthcare initiative.
A former drug addict and anti-drug advocate, Barry Luguzuri, also shared his personal experience with substance abuse, recounting how what began as experimentation gradually developed into addiction.
“What began as casual use became dependence. What I thought I had control over eventually took control of me. Alcohol and cigarettes became part of my life, and before I realised it, I was no longer making decisions freely,” he told the students.
Luguzuri explained that his addiction robbed him of opportunities and disrupted his dreams, serving as a stark reminder of the consequences of substance abuse.
He warned students against seemingly harmless actions that could become gateways to destructive habits.
“One wrong company, one moment of curiosity, one substance that looks normal, one bottle that appears harmless, or one cigarette that seems insignificant can eventually lead to destruction,” he cautioned.
Despite the challenges he faced, Luguzuri shared an inspiring message of hope, explaining how he successfully overcame addiction and has now spent six years helping others avoid similar experiences through advocacy and awareness campaigns.
He encouraged young people struggling with substance abuse to seek help early to safeguard their future.
The event, held on the theme “Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Life,” also featured an entrepreneurship session led by Benjamin Anyaana, Chief Executive Officer of B.C. Bencyn Ltd., who encouraged students to develop entrepreneurial skills and pursue innovative opportunities for personal and national development.
Mike 105.3FM I Navrongo | David Adapuna
