Marwa who published this when he received leaders of the Nollywood industry under the aegis of Actors Guild of Nigeria said the campaign against drug abuse in the country will go far with the offer of partnership and support from the leadership of AGN. NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said the AGN leaders declared support for the Agency’s ongoing war against drug abuse in Nigeria.

Marwa was quoted as saying, “Several artists don’t only use, they also encourage others to abuse drugs through their work and activities on social media.

 We want the Guild to set a good example by leading the war within its circle. Your movies must promote messages against the use of illicit drugs because the minds of millions are shaped by what they watch in movies. We need you to set up War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, committees within your industry.”

Meanwhile, the National President of AGN, Emeka Rollas Ejezie, said, “We are here today to substantiate our complete backing to your efforts in combating the menace of drugs in our society as we strongly believe will help lessen drug crime to the barest minimum.

“As a Guild of major influencers and in line with our set objectives to educate, inform and entertain as well as our avowed commitment to national development, we seek a mutually beneficial partnership with the NDLEA to leverage on the star-power of our members in promoting some of your transformation programs especially on drug trafficking and abuses.

“The Majority of our members are youths and appeal to a generation of youths who are influenced heavily by internet content and social media.

“We have, therefore, outlined some advocacy programs to enlighten Nigerian youths on the dangers of drug abuse and trafficking; they include but are not limited to: production of skits majorly for social media campaigns; drama series on negative effects of drug abuses, rehabilitations, eradicating the fear of stigmatization and advantages of total abstinence; engage some of our A-list actors as NDLEA Ambassadors to help use their star power to discourage the youths from doing drugs, among others.

“We share in the dream of a better Nigeria where success will be the reward for hard work and not through drug trafficking and other drug-related offenses.

“The era of glorifying drug barons and criminals is far gone and the Actors Guild of Nigeria, as Ambassadors of Nigeria’s image, is readily available for advocacy campaigns, talk-shops, production of skits, playlets, feature films, etc, on the menace of drug abuse and trafficking, he stated.