148
By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – To mark the this year”s World Drug Day, the MTN Foundation Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) in partnership with National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), educators as well as public sector leaders stormed University of Abuja on Saturday for a major awareness campaign push to combat drug abuse and trafficking among Nigerian youth.
The participants at the event converged at the Convocation Square, University of Abuja for advocacy walk with the speakers highlighting the urgent need for collective action to curb the hyper-headed monster of drug addiction and promote youth resilience.
Precise Post recalls that the theme of this year’s edition is; “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention” with a slogan “Break the Cycle (#StopOrganizedCrime)”.
Speaking to journalist as to the essence of the event, the Executive Director, MTN Foundation, Mrs. Odunayo Sanya hinted that MTN Foundation ASAP initiative which was launched in 2019, was designed to raise awareness, educate, and empower young Nigerians. She said statistically, Nigeria is a very young country and about 70 percent of our population is made up of young people below the age of 25 and if you look at the statistics of drug abuse in the country, you will see that it is rising and if nothing is done, then we are actually endangered as a nation.
MTN Foundation has always been about youth development, beyond that we want to meet the sustainable development goal, we want to contribute to building a stronger nation. So when we put all of these statistics together, it was important that we stepped in to advocate against drug abuse. So that is our inspiration – the inspiration really is the Nigerian youth and the fact that we want to be able to contribute in creating a future that they ply with.
Reacting to the major impacts of previous editions of the campaign and advocacy, Mrs Sanya said that over the years, specifically last year, the MTN Foundation patnering with NDLEA and UNODC, we were able to engage about 30,000 Nigerian students in public schools across the six geopolitical regions and the engagement was giving them information about substance abuse and how to make the right choices.
“So on the one side as we tell them about the dangers of drug abuse, we are also equipping them with tools they need to make the right choices, build resilience as individuals, and we have seen lots of them do well. The teachers have equally given us feedbacks how rate of deliquency has dropped in their schools. Even parents have given us reports that our advocacy has positive impact on their children and to even other children in the family and neighbourhood because those children go back home and tell other children and people around them about dangers of drug abuse.
The program has already reached thousands of students and teachers across the country’s six geopolitical zones, equipping them with knowledge about substance use, the power of making the right choices, and how to resist peer pressure.
UN data from 2018 revealed that young people constitute the majority of drug users in the country. With over 70% of Nigeria’s population under the age of 25, stakeholders emphasized that addressing substance abuse among this demographic is key to reversing the trend nationwide.
Teachers trained under the program have become catalysts for change in their schools and communities. Reports from parents indicate that students are sharing what they’ve learned with their siblings and peers, creating a ripple effect in awareness and behaviour change, Mrs Sanya said.
On his part, Secretary to NDLEA, Barrister Shadrach Haruna said the event is to let the world know that NDLEA and her partners are working together to prevent drug use and drug abuse. Adding that if you prevent drug use and drug traficking, it will be so clear that we don’t need to have enforcement and prevention comes by way of reducing drug supply and also doing effective enforcement to ensure that nobody traffics in drugs. That is why we are having this collaboration with MTN Foundation this morning to do a walk against substance abuse.
When he was asked why the choice of UniAbuja, Mr Haruna said we want to connect with the youth and when and when you pick a University, that is the epitome of youth development where you know that we have a lot of people who can resonate with the environment, most people who are into drug use, are mostly youth, so when we start with the University, the awareness will show that we are concerned about the youth and if we are able to prevent drug use among youth, then we would have reduced almost 75 percent of drug abuse in the country. So that is the essence of trying to reconnect with the youth and choose the University as the starting point to drive home the point that we are concerned about the youth.
Similarly, representative of Minister of Health, Pharm. Henrietta Bakura Oyinike in her contribution said , “If we stop drug trafficking and abuse among young people, we have tackled 75% of the problem,” Adding that this is not just a fight for government agencies—every Nigerian, from parents to faith groups, from schools to private sector players, must be involved.”
She also emphasized values like patience, discipline, and entrepreneurship as alternatives to drug use. “We must guide our youth toward the right paths—not just through talk, but through action, mentorship, and opportunity.”
Pharm. Oyinike also addressed underlying societal pressures that push youth into substance abuse—like unemployment, poverty, and the allure of quick success.
You don’t need to cut corners to succeed, said the Health Ministers representative, adding that with hard work, consistency, and the right support, every young Nigerian can thrive.”
She urged parents and communities to instill values of patience and integrity, noting that “it takes a village” to raise drug-free, productive youth. “This fight is not one person’s job. It is our collective responsibility.”
Speakers also advocated for scaling up entrepreneurship education and ensuring access to government-backed small business loans, particularly for young Nigerians completing their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Also present at the event were representatives from Cameroon, who joined Nigerian partners in reiterating the importance of international collaboration. Attendees declared a shared commitment: “I am here to stop drug abuse before it destroys our society.”
The event served as a platform to showcase data from Nigeria’s Epidemic Network on Drugs, a system that tracks treatment center entries. Officials reported a growing number of young people voluntarily seeking help—an indication that awareness efforts are yielding results.
The event closed with a renewed pledge from all partners to continue building awareness, expanding access to rehabilitation, and empowering youth as agents of change in the ongoing fight against substance abuse.
