YABATECH, LSSTF-CACCOV Strengthen Partnership Against Cultism, Crime on Campus

 YABATECH, LSSTF-CACCOV Strengthen Partnership Against Cultism, Crime on Campus

The Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) and the Lagos State Security Trust Fund Campaign Against Crime, Cultism and Other Vices (LSSTF-CACCOV) have strengthened their partnership to combat cultism, drug abuse, crime and other social vices among students.

The renewed collaboration followed a special appreciation and partnership meeting between the college’s Governing Council and management, led by the Rector, Dr. Engr. Ibraheem Adedotun Abdul, and the leadership of LSSTF-CACCOV.

The meeting came weeks after the security initiative conducted a sensitisation programme for more than 1,000 fresh students of the institution, focusing on the dangers of cultism, drug abuse and other social vices.

Speaking at the meeting, Abdul described the initiative as a timely intervention aimed at protecting the institution’s most valuable assets — its students — from influences capable of derailing their academic and personal development.

The Rector said students should be regarded as “diamonds” who must be protected, nurtured and prepared to contribute meaningfully to national development.

“If you want to attack the future of any nation, just destroy their youth. Once their youth are destroyed, then you know they have no hope,” Abdul said.

He commended LSSTF-CACCOV for choosing YABATECH as one of the institutions for its preventive security intervention, noting that the initiative aligned with the college’s efforts to protect students from cultism, drug abuse and other destructive influences.

Abdul also praised the Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, an alumnus of YABATECH, for championing security initiatives in Lagos State and creating an opportunity for the institution’s alumni network to support a broader public-security mission.

The Rector, however, called for increased security support for the institution, including enhanced police presence and additional patrol vehicles, citing the security challenges associated with the college’s surrounding environment.

“We sit at the centre of a quadrangle of cultism. The Jimbo boys are around the corner, the Valley boys are there, the Afro-Belgian hoodlums are there, and warding them away is a big task which we have been confronting frontally but we need additional support to make this place safe,” he said.

According to him, stronger collaboration between the college, alumni and security stakeholders would help create a safer environment and enhance confidence in the institution.

Also speaking, the LSSTF-CACCOV State Coordinator, Dr. Moses Oladimeji, described his return to YABATECH in a security capacity as both an honour and a responsibility, having been trained by the institution.

“I see you as my fathers and mothers, alumnus of this same college. You trained me, and I'm here today, and I'm one of your success stories,” Oladimeji said.

He explained that LSSTF-CACCOV was established to strengthen the preventive dimension of security through education, advocacy and mentorship.

Oladimeji said the initiative was designed to empower young people before they became perpetrators of crime, stressing that conventional law enforcement alone could not address the root causes of criminality among youths.

“We believe in empowering young people before they become actual perpetrators of crime,” he said.

He recalled that the recent freshmen orientation programme at YABATECH reached more than 1,000 students, adding that the initiative would be expanded to cover ND1, ND2, HND1, HND2 and part-time students.

He proposed the establishment of LSSTF-CACCOV clubs within the institution, installation of anti-cultism billboards and awareness signages, as well as the deployment of official LSSTF security tip lines to enable students and members of the college community report security threats.

According to Oladimeji, information received through the designated WhatsApp channel would be promptly transmitted to the relevant security agency for intervention.

“It's a WhatsApp line that within 1-3 minutes that a message gets to our office, it will be redirected to the appropriate security agency that will take the matter up,” he said.

The LSSTF-CACCOV team also highlighted drug abuse as a major threat to the future of Nigerian youths, stressing the need for sustained awareness and preventive interventions on campuses.

The Assistant Coordinator of LSSTF-CACCOV, Uzezi Akinwoleola, said the organisation could not achieve its objectives without strategic partnerships with educational institutions.

“At LSSTF-CACCOV we believe in empowering young people. Our mandate is very clear about educating youths against the dangers of crime. We believe youths should be empowered before they become perpetrators of crime,” she said.

Akinwoleola noted that YABATECH was not merely a stakeholder but a strategic partner, recalling the sensitisation programme where more than 1,000 fresh students were reached.

The President of the YABATECH Alumni Association, Otunba Bldr. 'Yemi Osibajo, also commended the partnership, disclosing that it was facilitated by Mr. Salvador Olakunle Olatunji, Deputy Registrar and Chairman of the Students' Affairs and Education Committee of the Alumni Association.

Osibajo praised Olatunji for facilitating the relationship between the alumni association and LSSTF-CACCOV, which led to the CACCOV intervention during the students’ orientation.

He expressed optimism that the partnership would produce more student-focused programmes designed to keep young people positively engaged and reduce their vulnerability to criminal influences.

The meeting was attended by members of the YABATECH Governing Council and management, including the Deputy Rector (Academic), Dr. Ismail Badmus; Deputy Rector (Administration), Arc. Adefemi Lawal; Acting Registrar, Barrister Sakib Kazeem Babatunde Wahab, who represented the Registrar, Mrs. Henrietta Adebola Gbemisola Badejo; Dr. Achonna Andy Umunna, representing the Polytechnic Librarian; Bursar, Dr. Olusola Dada; Sub-Dean, Students' Affairs Unit, Engr. Ogunrinola Oludele; Chairman, Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit, Dr. Tairu Onawale; Acting Director, Centre for Information and Public Relations, Mr. Adekunle Adams; and Mr. Salvador Olakunle Olatunji.

Members of the alumni delegation included Mr. Anika Jackson, Associate Director of the National Body of the Alumni Association; Mr. Peter Bassey, an ex-official; Mr. Babatunde Olutomileyin, Public Relations Officer; Mr. Babatunde, another alumni ex-official; and Mr. Oshabiyi, Treasurer of the association.

The engagement ultimately moved beyond an appreciation meeting to a framework for sustained cooperation between YABATECH, its alumni and LSSTF-CACCOV.

The partners agreed that securing the campus must go hand in hand with protecting the future of its students, through preventive security, mentorship, awareness, reporting mechanisms and stronger institutional collaboration.