The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mohamed Buba Marwa, has called for stronger collaboration with traditional rulers to protect the girl-child, warning that poverty, abuse and lack of education continue to push many women and young people into drug abuse and exploitation.
Marwa made the appeal on Saturday in Kaduna during the public presentation of “In The Shadow of the Neem Tree,” a book written by his daughter, Barrister Mariam Marwa-Abdu.
According to him, safeguarding girls is critical to addressing the root causes of drug abuse and other social problems.
“As the Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, I see firsthand every day how systemic vulnerabilities like poverty, abuse and lack of education drive women and youth toward drug abuse and exploitation,” Marwa said.
He stressed that the responsibility of protecting vulnerable groups should not rest solely on government agencies and civil society organisations.
“We cannot leave this battle to the government or non-governmental organisations alone. We need the partnership of our revered traditional institutions, led by custodians of culture, to shift the cultural paradigm. We must protect our daughters, educate them and give them the wings to fly,” he added.
Marwa argued that protecting girls ultimately strengthens families and the nation.
“By protecting the girl-child, we protect the family, and by protecting the family, we secure the nation,” he said.
The NDLEA boss also praised the author, describing the publication as a significant contribution to advocacy against child marriage and gender-based injustice.
He said the novel highlights the realities of girls forced into early marriages and the long-term consequences on their education, health and future.
Referring to the symbolism of the book’s title, Marwa said the neem tree, a familiar feature across northern Nigeria, often serves as the backdrop for traditional arrangements that deny girls opportunities to realise their full potential.
“Early marriage robs a girl of her childhood, her education, her health and her potential to contribute meaningfully to society,” he said.
Marwa also used the occasion to celebrate what he described as his family’s growing literary legacy, noting that Mariam had become the fourth of his children to publish a book.
According to him, all four of his eldest children, who are lawyers, have embraced writing as a tool for addressing societal challenges.
The author, Mariam Marwa-Abdu, founder of the Women and Children’s Rights and Empowerment Foundation (WCREF), said the book reflects years of advocacy rather than mere fiction.
She explained that since establishing the foundation in 2011, she has dedicated more than a decade to advancing the rights of women and children through advocacy and direct interventions.
Representing the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, Architect Haruna Abubakar Bamalli expressed hope that the book launch would inspire both individual and collective efforts toward social development.
(The Whistler)