THE National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Ebonyi State has introduced 'Consumer Safety Club' in secondary schools to further safeguard the health of the nation.

The Head of the Agency in Ebonyi, Mr Richard Anichukwu, said that the consumer safety club in schools would yield positive results among the youth.

Anichukwu spoke in Abakaliki on Monday at an award ceremony to honour secondary school students who distinguished themselves in the safety club competition in Ebonyi.

"The NAFDAC consumer safety club is established in secondary schools in Nigeria to enlighten the youth on the agency's activities to ensure that the health of the people is protected.

"The club is mainly focused to educate the youth on the ill-effects of fake regulated products and promotion of quality as well as disseminate activities of the agency to their peer groups."

He said the cardinal objective of the club was to "catch them young" and to train them as vanguards for consumer protection of all goods and services.

Anichukwu advised the Nigerian youth to avoid drug abuse, regulated and unwholesome drugs, pointing out that as vanguards of consumer protection, they were expected to educate others on regulated products.

"Avoid peer pressure group that might lure you into using drugs or substances of abuse such as marijuana, cocaine, heroine or performance enhancing drugs."

According to Anichukwu, 26 schools in Ebonyi participated in the competition which took place in October 2011.

He said, "six schools in the junior and senior category that have distinguished themselves are being rewarded today."

The Universal Modern Secondary School, Hope High International, Holy Child Secondary School, all in Abakaliki were outstanding in the junior category.

Government Secondary School, EBSU Staff Secondary School and Akanu Ibiam Memorial Seminary, all in Abakaliki were outstanding in senior category.

The schools were given awards for their outstanding performance.