By Our Reporter
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The MTN Foundation has reaffirmed its commitment to combating drug and substance abuse among young Nigerians through sustained awareness campaigns, strategic partnerships, and youth-focused interventions aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles and preventing first-time drug use.
This commitment was underscored during an anti-drug advocacy walk held in Abuja to commemorate the 2026 United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The event, organized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in partnership with the MTN Foundation, the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and other stakeholders, brought together students, youth groups, civil society organizations, development partners, volunteers, and representatives of the United Nations in a united call for a drug-free society.
Speaking at the event, the Manager, Learning and Development at MTN Nigeria, Mrs. Nkechi Oniah, stated that the Foundation’s awareness drive is specifically designed to engage young people between the ages of 10 and 25 years, a demographic considered particularly vulnerable to the dangers of substance abuse.
“We have put together an advocacy walk. Basically, this is about creating awareness on the ills of substance abuse. So, we are linking up with the age bracket of 10 to 25 years,” she said.
The advocacy walk forms part of MTN Foundation’s flagship Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP), a nationwide initiative focused on discouraging first-time drug use and promoting positive behavioural change among young people. Through the programme, the Foundation aims to reach more than 20,000 students across 50 public secondary schools in 10 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Participants marched through designated routes in Abuja carrying placards with anti-drug messages and advocating healthy lifestyle choices, while emphasizing the need for collective action to address the growing challenge of substance abuse among Nigerian youths.
In his remarks, the President of the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Prof. Azikiwe Peter Onwualu, described drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking as major threats to public health, security, education, and national development. He warned that the consequences of substance abuse are increasingly evident in communities, schools, workplaces, and families across the country.
Prof. Onwualu noted that the 2026 global theme, “The World Drug Problem: Pressing Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses,” highlights the evolving nature of the drug challenge, including the emergence of synthetic drugs, changing trafficking patterns, online drug markets, and growing mental health concerns.
He stressed that universities have a critical role to play in prevention through education, character formation, leadership development, and social transformation. He urged students not to allow drugs to derail their ambitions and encouraged them to seek help when faced with mental health or substance dependence challenges.
The AUST President further advocated a whole-of-society approach, emphasizing that governments alone cannot address the drug problem. He commended the collaboration among NDLEA, UNODC, MTN Foundation, AUST, and other partners as a model for addressing complex societal challenges through collective action.
Similarly, the Project Lead for Alternatives to Incarceration at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Dr. Akanidomo Ibanga, called for innovative and coordinated strategies to address the evolving nature of drug abuse in Nigeria.
According to him, drug trafficking networks are increasingly exploiting technology, social media platforms, lifestyle marketing, and synthetic substances to target young people, making prevention efforts more challenging than ever before.
Dr. Ibanga noted that while drug abuse remains a persistent global problem, stakeholders must continue to develop innovative responses to emerging threats. He commended the NDLEA for strengthening prevention-focused initiatives and praised the MTN Foundation for supporting anti-drug programmes across the country.
He revealed that beyond the advocacy walk, the MTN Foundation is currently supporting prevention activities in schools across 11 states, organizing annual school debates, and funding a nationwide survey among secondary school students to generate data that will enable more targeted and evidence-based interventions.
Describing these initiatives as examples of innovative responses required to tackle the growing menace of substance abuse, Dr. Ibanga emphasized that no single institution can solve the problem alone. He called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, educational institutions, civil society organizations, development partners, communities, parents, and the private sector.
The MTN Foundation reiterated that empowering young people with the right information, support systems, mentorship opportunities, and life skills remains essential to preventing drug abuse and safeguarding Nigeria’s future.
The advocacy walk concluded with participants renewing their commitment to strengthening partnerships and expanding prevention efforts across the country under the rallying message: “Every Step Counts. Every Voice Matters. Together, We Say No to Drug Abuse.”
