LAUTECH to Begin Mandatory Drug Screening for All Students

The management of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, has announced plans to implement compulsory drug screening for all its students in a bid to curb substance abuse and promote a healthier learning environment.

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Razaq Olatunde Rom Kalilu, disclosed this while receiving the Kwame Nkrumah Award of Excellence from the Grow Africa Youth Initiative (GAYI). He said the measure was necessary to safeguard the welfare of students and ensure that future leaders from the institution are well-equipped to make positive contributions to society.

Professor Kalilu explained that while drug screening had previously been limited to newly admitted students, the fresh initiative will cover both freshers and returning students at different stages of their academic journey. According to him, the decision is part of LAUTECH’s proactive stance against the rising cases of drug abuse, which he described as detrimental not only to students’ academic performance but also to the nation’s socio-economic development.

He further expressed the university’s readiness to collaborate with relevant organizations dedicated to youth development and nation-building in tackling the menace.

Speaking earlier, the President of Grow Africa Youth Initiative, Comrade Ozim Temple, raised concerns over the widespread impact of drug abuse on African youth, lamenting that it has continued to erode moral and cultural values passed down through generations.

With this policy, LAUTECH joins other Nigerian universities taking concrete steps to combat drug abuse while reinforcing discipline and responsible student conduct on campus.