Wiiyakara, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, played host to a Youth Development and Health Sensitization Programme organized by LightHope Succor Worldwide Initiative in collaboration with the Wiiyakara Community Development Committee (CDC) on December 31, 2025.
The programme, themed “Harnessing the Potentials in Our Youth: The Antidote to Sustainable Development,” brought together key stakeholders, including members of the Traditional Council, CDC officials, youth groups and women, to address social challenges confronting young people, particularly cultism and drug abuse.
Anchored by Comrade Collins Lebeteh Kenneth of Habitat Protection and Sustainable Development Initiatives (HAPSDI), the event featured a keynote presentation by the Chairman of the Wiiyakara CDC, Dr. Richard Erenu Akpodee. He expressed concern over the rising incidence of cultism and drug abuse among youths, noting their adverse effects on health, education, family cohesion and overall community development.
Dr. Akpodee identified peer pressure, unemployment, lack of purpose, weak family structures, poor parental supervision and limited access to mentorship as key factors driving the social vices. He emphasized the need for early intervention, positive youth engagement and the reinforcement of strong family values as strategies to curb the trend.
The programme also included a health sensitization session led by the Executive Director of LightHope Succor Worldwide Initiative, Evelyn Williams, who highlighted the critical role of women in sustaining families and communities. She urged women to prioritize their health, describing it as fundamental to family stability and community progress.
During the session, participants were introduced to Cummins Oil, a herbal supplement, with explanations on its benefits, including relief from joint and muscle pain, reduction of body aches and inflammation, improved circulation and overall wellness. In furtherance of its commitment to community health, LightHope Succor Worldwide Initiative donated and distributed 100 bottles of the product free of charge to participants, with particular emphasis on women.
The programme ended with a call to action, urging families to take primary responsibility for mentoring and guiding young people. It also appealed to government, community leaders, civil society organizations and youths to collaborate in preventing cultism and drug abuse and in promoting sustainable development.
LightHope Succor Worldwide Initiative reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment, health promotion and sustainable community development, especially in underserved and rural communities.
