MTN Foundation Decries Emergence of Psychoactive Substances in Nigerian Markets

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The MTN Foundation has expressed concern over the emergence of psychoactive substances in large quantities across markets in the country.

The Foundation, however, said most of these substances are purchased and consumed predominantly by the youth.

Speaking in Ilorin, yesterday, during the Stakeholders’ Workshop on the implementation of Anti-substance Abuse Programme Teachers Training in Kwara State, the MTN Foundation said, “we have not only refused to turn a blind eye but have also made it a priority to reduce the rate of first-time substance abuse among Nigerian youth.”

The MTN Foundation, who was represented at the event by Manager Sales and Trade Development, Kwara area, Mrs. Chinyere Ikechi, said, “Since we launched our Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) in 2019, we have educated millions of people on the dangers of drug abuse across the country through targeted campaigns and interventions in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).”

She also said, “We’ve also engaged youth in awareness competitions, conducted advocacy walks across states, facilitated teacher training, sensitised communities in collaboration with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and held stakeholder conferences, such as this one.

“This year once again, we joined the rest of the world to commemorate International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking with the theme: ‘It’s Everyone’s Fight.’

“The severity of the situation warrants declaring it a national emergency, and it is our responsibility to mitigate this, whether through policy updates, strategic partnerships, or preventive measures.

“That is why we’re here to facilitate a wider and more impactful discourse among stakeholders across key sectors and industries.”

Ikechi added, “With your partnership, we can educate and disseminate the correct information about substance abuse and integrate it into the educational curriculum to help model behavioural values in our society.

“With your partnership, we can ensure the reinforcement of barriers against inappropriate access to substances.

“Together, we can invest in the future of our youth, through this all-important mission.”

She pointed out further that, “Under the 2025 ASAP campaign activities, our advocacy walk across tertiary institutions in Abuja, Enugu, Lagos and Kano, brought together over 1,400 stakeholders for the fight against substance abuse.

 “Our stakeholder convenings in Lagos and Abuja further strengthened our multi-sectoral partnerships in the fight against the substance abuse.

“We aim to educate 86,400 public secondary school students and 1,440 teachers, respectively, across 12 States on the impact of substance abuse – encourage them to participate in our quiz competition; facilitate a stakeholders’ workshop and a 3-day training for 60 secondary school teachers in Kwara and Kaduna; sensitise our communities through outreaches in collaboration with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).”

Also speaking at the event, the State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq  commended MTN for its interest in a drug-free society.

AbdulRazaq who was represented by the Senior Adviser/ Counselor, Alhaji Saadu Salahu, acknowledged the critical role that the teachers played in moulding the students who are leaders of tomorrow.

He traced the security challenges confronting the country to drug addiction.

He charged the teachers to support the state government in making its various interventions in combating drug abuse successful.