The MTN Nigeria Foundation, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on Saturday led an anti-drug sensitisation walk in Kano, as part of efforts to raise youth awareness and discourage substance abuse.
The exercise, tagged MTN Anti-Drug Abuse Walk, also featured students, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders.
Participants, who dressed in branded T-shirts, carried placards with messages such as “Say No to Drugs,” “Addiction Starts With One Wrong Choice,” “Highness No Be Steeze,” and “Healthy Body, and Healthy Mind – No Drugs.
The participants walked to and from Bayero University’s old campus, passing through Kano State Polytechnic.
Speaking at the event, Aliyu Abu-Sufyan, Senior Manager at MTN Nigeria, said the initiative was organised in partnership with NDLEA, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and student groups.
He said that the aim was to engage the public on the dangers of drug abuse and to encourage collective action.
“MTN Foundation remains committed to education, empowerment, and partnerships with relevant stakeholders to fight drug abuse among young people,” he said.
“This advocacy walk is not only to raise awareness but also to call on communities to unite against substance abuse,” he added.
Abu-Sufyan said the foundation’s Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP), launched in 2019, had reached more than 91 million Nigerians, including 27,000 students and 450 teachers in 65 secondary schools across 12 states.
He said that in 2024, the foundation, in collaboration with NDLEA’s 24/7 psychosocial support desk, provided counselling to about 4,000 individuals.
“We are targeting training for over 86,000 students and 1,500 teachers in another 12 states this year,” he added.
Also speaking, Mr Edward Fagbohun, Senior Manager, Programme Implementation at the MTN Foundation, said “the campaign primarily targets young people aged between 10 and 25.
“We know that if we are able to discourage them from substance use, we will be building a society free from drug addiction.
“That’s why our yearly sensitisation, in partnership with NDLEA and UNODC, is focused on reaching youths across the country,” he said.
Fagbohun said similar awareness campaigns were being held simultaneously in Lagos, Enugu and Abuja.
“We are also organising training for teachers and students in selected schools across the country on the dangers of drug and substance abuse,” he added.
In his remarks, the NDLEA Deputy Commander in charge of Operations and Training in Kano, Mr Dahiru Yahya, said the prevalence of drug abuse in the state was partly due to its large population.
He said the walk was part of NDLEA’s activities to commemorate the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
According to him, the theme for this year’s World Drug Day is: “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention.”
“To invest in prevention, we must break the chain of production, supply and use of drugs.
“Everyone knows the effects of drug abuse the damage it causes to individuals and society.
“Banditry, kidnapping, and mass failure in academic examinations are all linked to drug abuse,” he said.
Yahya commended MTN Foundation for partnering with the NDLEA to achieve a drug-free society.