…Becomes WADA ambassador

Nollywood actress and film producer, Jumoke Odetola, on Saturday spent time with Clients at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) drug treatment center, to mark her birthday.
According to the award-winning actress, the motive behind her visit is to show love and support to those who are bold enough to submit themselves for rehabilitation.
Jumoke, who is now a War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) ambassador, described the clients as “bold, champions and winners”, for seeking help, adding that supporting, and in fact celebrating with them, is her way of encouraging those battling with drug addiction.

She noted that society has a role to play in the reformation process, especially regarding how they view those in rehab and those who have passed through rehabilitation.
“With statements where those in psychiatric hospitals or rehabilitation centers are referred to as ‘Yaba left patients’ ‘salaro’ and the likes, it becomes difficult to submit oneself to rehabilitation for the fear of stigmatization and mockery.
“All they need is support. This isn’t a facility anyone can be forced into. Everyone here must have given their consent to be here. It takes a very high sense of responsibility and self-esteem to submit oneself to rehabilitation knowing they want to be better people and going for it; they are the real deal.
“We need to get to that point where we will easily and confidently be able to tell people we are going to see a psychiatrist or check into a rehabilitation facility and not be seen as an abnormal individual; that stage where we can take leave from work to go to a rehab facility and still have our job retained on getting back, the level where we wouldn’t be ill-teased by families, friends, acquaintances by the virtue of the fact that they know we have been to the rehab center,” she said.
The two-time Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award (AMVCA) winner rounded off her celebration with the cutting of her birthday cake, and the donation of food items, drinks, toiletries, and other items to clients at the facility.
Recall that NDLEA and other organisations, partnered with the actress and film producer in premiering her movie ‘Trap’ in commemoration of World Drug Day, earlier in the year.
The film, which centers on drug abuse, addiction, rehabilitation, and management of relapse received accolades for its advocacy message even from international organisations.