Rector Pascal Advocates Second Chances For Youths Battling Addiction

Rector Pascal, founder and executive director of the We Are Not Thugs Initiative and the Rector Pascal Foundation, has called for greater support for young people battling substance use, stressing the importance of rehabilitation, dignity and second chances.
He made the call during a session titled “Starting Again: The Power of Second Chances” at the sixth edition of the DARE Conference, held in Abuja on October 16 and 17, 2026.
The conference, organised by YouthHubAfrica under the theme “Youth Power as a Pathway to Africa’s Future”, brought together more than 1,000 young Africans, both in person and virtually, to discuss health, governance, education, entrepreneurship, and youth part...