Lucky Obukohwo ReportingÂ
The Deputy Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Maria Edeko has warned celebrities against drugs abuse saying, abstinence would enable them stay focused in their chosen career.
She also warned against human trafficking and sexual harassment in the entertainment industry.
The lawmaker representing Esan North- East constituency 1, made the call when the management and members of the Twinsporium Entertainment Agency paid her a courtesy visit at the Edo House of Assembly complex in Benin.
She said that drugs abuse, human trafficking and sexual exploitation are social vices that have negatively impacted on the life of the youths in the country.
According to her, the menace of drug abuse had in the past brought devastating consequences including physical and mental health problems, financial difficulties and death to many successful celebrities in Nigeria.
“As professionals, one thing you people must avoid as celebrities is drug because drug destroy.
“Most of our greatest artistes today have been destroyed by drugs .You can make billions from your career and the billions will go the way it came if you are into drugs.
“As you are aware too, we have been plagued with the menace of human trafficking and exploitation.
“In the past, people could travel aboard to study and they will return back to Nigeria.
“But people now engage in human trafficking, exploitation to earn a living which is bad. God has blessed us with everything”, Edeko said.
She however lauded the group for its commitment in discovering new talents, developing their potentials and empowering youths to earn a living.
Edeko, who noted that the younger generation needed to be nurtured to imbibe and embrace legitimate ventures, however, called on beauty Queens and other would-be celebrities to respect their dignity, adding that those were the only qualities that would take them to the peak of their professions.
Earlier, the President of the Twinsporium Entertainment Agency, Udo Peter Oshomah said that the primary objective of the agency is to discover raw talents in the entertainment industry.
Oshomah explained that the agency helps to develop talents in modelling, acting choreography and event planning among others.
“We are redefining the ethics of modeling and pageantry by propagating our cultural values and morality with respect to the dignity of womanhood.
He told the deputy Speaker that the agency was a platform for young girls and boys to harness their potentials in the entertainment industry,” Oshomah said