Ezeh, also the Chief Executive Officer, Adicare Rehabilitation Home, an NGO, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.
She said the call became imperative in the face of wrong orientation amongst youths, which made them mere tools of social vices including stealing, drug abuse, addiction, gender-based violence, among others.
Ezeh stressed the need to change the mindset of youths and make them more responsible and productive.
She said that the level of social consciousness of youths were low considering the enormous responsibility of nation-building before them, hence, the need for total social reorientation.
The mental health expert said that many youths were not ready to take up responsibilities or face the challenges of life, but rather prefer easy route to success and wealth.
She explained that the stability of Nigeria would be determined by the role being played by youths.
According to her, hard work and perseverance make one very successful person without adverse consequence.
“Reorientation of youth’s mindset will go far in acquainting them with inherent danger in cultism, drug addiction/abuse and other forms of immoral acts,’’ she said.
Ezeh, however, called for patience on the part of the citizens in the face of present economic crunch, saying that the situation required spirit of collectivism, hard work and commitment to succeed.
She appealed to the government at all levels to intensify youths empowerment programmes so as to deal decisively with the issue of drug abuse in the country.
According to her, it is on record that the use of hard drugs is the number one cause of mental illness, suicide, arson, violent crimes, as well as violence against women worldwide.
“Let the governments put in place the enabling environment for investments to thrive so that youths can be gainfully engaged.
“With the empowerment, many youths will be busy, avoid immoral acts and be of good conduct in the society,” she said. (Nigeria news 24)