The Enugu state commissioner for youths and sports, Hon. Manfred Nzekwe has commended the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu and the Nigeria Police Force on the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices(POCACOV) anti-vice football match initiative.
The initiative is a new approach by the Nigeria Police Force and a community driven programme designed to work with different stakeholders in line with the tenets of community-oriented policing to sensitize and dissuade Nigerian children and youths against the dangers of cultism, substance and drug abuse, thuggery/violence, sexual and and gender-based violence and other vices in the country.
According to the commissioner, “POCACOV approach is friendly and result-oriented,” urging all stakeholders to support POCACOV to dissuade Nigerian youths from the claws of cultism and other vices for a safe and secured community.
He made the commendation on Saturday during an anti-cultism/social vices seminar/lecture organized by POCACOV in partnership with Ahani Achi Community of Oji River LGA for the youths and other stakeholders under the Pocacov Volunter Club (PVC) of safer school/community partnership held at the Community Central School Ahani Achi.
The event also featured POCACOV anti-vice football match for youth reorientation and engagement between two teams drawn from the community and which also saw the selection of three youths by the management of Rangers Int’l Football Club Enugu for their grassroot development and community talent hunt scheme.
The three selected youths Onyeka Uzo(18yrs), Chinedu Youngster(20yrs) and Chigozie Bede(19yrs) are to further undergo trials with Enugu Rangers FC.
In his lecture titled “Road To Becoming A Champion”, the National Coordinator of POCACOV, CSP Ebere Amaraizu, charged youths to remain focus at all time by refusing to allow themselves to be used as an instrument to cause mayhem, thuggery and violence while reminding them on the need to constantly say No to cultism, substance/drug abuse, sexual and gender-based violence, thuggery and other vices in order to be a champion.
According to him, “it is not easy to be a champion but when your integrity is not compromised and you are focused and avoid cutting corners amongst others, you are bound to see you becoming the champion of your dream.
“Youths can do it by sticking to the morals and religious values and by believing in themselves. As a youth, you should avoid anything that will bring you in conflict with the law of the land and believe in hard work, knowing that it pays.
“POCACOV has come to remind you about those negative tendencies and the need to stay off from them to become meaningful to yourself and to the society.”
The event which was centered on campaign against cultism and curbing of drug abuse and other vices amongst the youths featured skill acquisition programme on soap and perfume making and Pocacov anti-vice match, witnessed turn out of traditional rulers of the community, representatives of the Rangers Intl FC of Enugu, comprising Rangers secretary Barr. Ferdinand and the team manager Barr. Amobi Ezeaku and Rangers captain Okey Odita, the clergies from the community, women group, youths and youth leaders.
Some participants who spoke during the event, described it as a step in the right direction and expressed happiness.
One of the players selected for the Rangers Intl FC trials through POCACOV anti-vice match for youth reorientation and engagement appealed that the POCACOV seminar and anti-vice match should take place in all the communities in Nigeria.
According to them, “we have learnt a lot through this POCACOV seminar and anti-vice match. It is a good development from the Inspector General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force. This is community policing at work and we need to support this wonderful initiative of the Police.
