Nobody Will Intimidate You — and Other Lies
Children are not just members of our society; they are important parts of our present and the future we are building.
This is why we need to have certain conversations with them early.
At our just concluded GlowPulse 2.0, DSP Ukeje Justice, Enugu State Coordinator of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), spoke to the children about cultism and other social vices.
One of the things he emphasised was how young people can be lured into cult groups.
It doesn't always come as someone saying,
“Come and join this society.”
Sometimes, it comes disguised as promises:
“If you join, you'll become a big boy or a big girl.”
“Nobody will be able to beat you.”
“Everyone will respect you.”
“People will be afraid of you.”
For a child who doesn't understand the dangers behind these promises, they may sound appealing.
This is why education matters.
Before we expect children to say no to these vices, we need to teach them how to recognise them in the first place.
They need to understand what cultism and other social vices are, how people can be manipulated into them and the consequences these choices can have on their lives and the society around them.
The world we want tomorrow starts with the conversations we have with children today.
At Cope and Live Mental Health Awareness Foundation, we believe that prevention starts with awareness.
When children are equipped with the right knowledge, they are better positioned to recognize danger, make informed decisions and seek help when they need it.
What are some of the conversations you believe we need to have with children before they encounter these challenges?
About GlowPulse
GlowPulse is organised yearly by the Cope and Live Mental Health Awareness Foundation and COLI Mental Health Academy. It serves children and teens through sessions on emotional intelligence — including anger management, self-regulation, self-awareness and empathy — as well as digital literacy and screen-addiction awareness, play therapy, resilience training, anti-bullying and cyberbullying tools, vocational and career awareness, healthy boundaries, soft skills, stress and anxiety management, and practical modules such as CPR and cancer awareness.
Every part of the bootcamp is designed for measurable outcomes, including the multi-session structure itself. The opening ceremony and meet-and-greet create initial awareness and launch the programme. Later sessions on vocational training, games, play therapy and resilience, followed by the closing celebration, provide natural moments to reinforce the message.
Individual skills — such as self-regulation or online safety — are linked to broader results: calmer homes, stronger school performance and clearer career readiness. GlowPulse is a high-visibility entry point into wider mental health support, connecting families to our ongoing work, including free counselling, school outreach and COLI Academy courses.
Article Contributor - Chiderah Chidi