HOW POSITIVE YOUTH TOOK MY LIFE BACK TO FACTORY SETTINGS My journey into drug addiction began in July 2000, right after I completed secondary school. I started smoking weed, and what began as a casual habit spiraled into a 20-year-long struggle with addiction. Despite numerous attempts to quit, nothing worked. In 2019, I made a life-altering decision. Driven by the grip of marijuana and its influence, I left Nigeria for Cotonou, Benin Republic. I had no invitation, no plan—just a compulsion to escape. For a year, I wandered through the streets of Cotonou, living recklessly and smoking without restraint. By April 2020, I returned to Nigeria, only to fall into a deeper abyss. Homeless and vulnerable, I started living a life of instability, sleeping around and drifting aimlessly. My turning point came when a police DCO in Obantoko, Abeokuta, noticed my case and decided to intervene. He introduced me to Jah Soldier, the Mission Director of Positive Youth and Family Life Mission (PYFLM). In September 2020, I became the first beneficiary of the Mawuko Rehabilitation Centre. My close friend, Pharmacist Gbolahan Fabiyi, played an unforgettable role in ensuring I joined Positive Youth. I spent six months at the in-house rehabilitation center, and during this period, my life took a turn I never imagined possible. Through the support and programs at Positive Youth, I regained a sense of purpose. I became actively involved in the mission and even served as an Assistant Coordinator. It was during this time that I met my wife, a blessing I had never envisioned for myself. Although I experienced a relapse at some point, the tools and support I gained at Positive Youth helped me rise stronger. By August 20, 2022, at the age of 40, I got married—a milestone I once thought was beyond my reach. After my rehabilitation, I explored different vocational paths. I started with fashion designing but later transitioned to something more fulfilling: learning solar and CCTV camera installation. Today, I am also a certified computer engineer. The story of my life cannot be told without Positive Youth and Family Life Mission. They gave me a second chance, a "factory reset" that transformed my life. Today, I am drug-free and highly conscious of preventing relapse. Positive Youth not only saved my life but also equipped me to live a purposeful and productive future.

Samuel Ayodeji Odubanku Computer Scientist