Foundation Tasks Families On Fight Against Drug Abuse

The MTN Foundation has called on families to take a more active role in tackling drug abuse among young people, warning that the growing menace cannot be addressed by government and private organisations alone.

The foundation made the call in Abuja during the 2026 World Drug Day commemoration, where it also announced the launch of Nigeria’s first national substance abuse survey among secondary school students to generate data that will support evidence-based interventions.

Speaking at the event, the chairperson of the foundation, Dr (Mrs) Mosun Belo-Olusoga, who was represented by the  executive director, Odunayo Sanya, described substance abuse as a persistent threat to the future of Nigerian youths and stressed the importance of collective action.

She said a nationwide survey being conducted in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Office of the vice president would provide reliable data to guide government policies and private sector interventions.

According to her, the survey will be carried out at the local government level across the country to provide evidence-based insights into the prevalence of substance abuse among secondary school students.

“Secondary schools have become a pipeline for substance abuse. We need accurate data to understand where the problems exist so government and stakeholders can concentrate resources where they are most needed,” she said.

Belo-Olusoga noted that the absence of comprehensive data has limited the ability of both government and private organisations to develop targeted and sustainable solutions to the problem.

She added that the MTN Foundation wws complementing its awareness campaigns by creating opportunities for young people through digital skills training,  professional certifications, entrepreneurship programmes and equipment grants.

“When we tell young people to say no to drugs, we must also provide them positive alternatives. We are filling that gap with education, digital skills and entrepreneurship opportunities,” she said.

The foundation plans to reach more than 20,000 public secondary school students across 10 states this year through substance abuse awareness and education programmes, with all six geopolitical zones represented.

Belo-Olusoga disclosed that since 2019, the foundation had reached more than 50,000 public secondary school students through advocacy and prevention programmes developed in partnership with the NDLEA and UNODC.

She said activities leading to this year’s World Drug Day included advocacy walks at tertiary institutions and stakeholder roundtable discussions across six states.

Calling for greater family involvement in the fight against substance abuse, Belo-Olusoga said parents, guardians and communities must take responsibility for protecting young people.

“We are all stakeholders in this fight. Almost every family has been touched by substance abuse in one way or another. Rather than treating it as a source of shame, we should equip ourselves to help those affected and prevent future occurrences among young people,” she said.

She acknowledged the federal government’s efforts to strengthen drug prevention through the introduction of substance abuse modules into school curricula,  expansion of the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) clubs in secondary schools and the implementation of drug testing in universities.

“I think we have come a long way. The government has done a lot, but government alone cannot solve the problem. The private sector cannot do it alone either. Families also have a critical role to play because the issues government addresses often begin in our homes,” she said.

She urged parents and guardians to take greater responsibility in protecting young people from substance abuse, maintaining that sustainable progress would only be achieved through collective action.

Belo-Olusoga reaffirmed the MTN Foundation’s commitment to sustaining its anti-drug advocacy, saying the organisation would continue to evaluate its interventions annually while expanding programmes aimed at reducing substance abuse among Nigerian youths.