The MTN Foundation has announced an ambitious initiative to educate 86,400 public secondary school students and 1,440 educators across 12 states about the consequences of substance abuse.
During a recent stakeholders‘ workshop focused on the rollout of the Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) and teacher training in Kaduna, MTN Foundation’s representative, Abubakar Zubairu, highlighted that since the program’s inception in 2019, millions nationwide have been enlightened on the perils of drug misuse.
Zubairu emphasized that these awareness efforts are delivered through strategic campaigns and collaborative interventions with key partners such as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
As part of the 2025 ASAP campaign, the foundation is organizing awareness walks at universities in Abuja, Enugu, Lagos, and Kano, mobilizing over 1,400 stakeholders united in combating substance abuse.
The foundation also encourages student engagement through quiz competitions, hosts stakeholder workshops, and conducts intensive three-day training sessions for 60 secondary school teachers in Kaduna and Kwara states. Additionally, community sensitization efforts are carried out in partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
“Our goal is to reach 86,400 secondary school students and 1,440 teachers across 12 states, equipping them with knowledge about the dangers of substance abuse,” the foundation stated. “We also facilitate interactive quiz contests, organize stakeholder forums, and provide comprehensive teacher training, alongside community outreach programs in collaboration with NYSC.”
Further strengthening these efforts, stakeholder meetings held in Lagos and Abuja have bolstered multi-sector partnerships essential to the fight against drug abuse.
One notable achievement is the collaboration with NDLEA to launch a 24/7 psychosocial support helpline-08010203040-offering free counseling services in multiple Nigerian languages, connecting individuals with professional psychologists.
MTN Foundation expressed that true success will be measured by the ongoing activities carried out by trained teachers, who will engage and monitor students to ensure the program’s lasting impact. These students are expected to become advocates and ambassadors for the cause.
The teacher training initiatives in Kaduna and Kwara are also laying the groundwork for developing a digital platform to expand the program’s reach, addressing the urgent need to scale up substance abuse education. The foundation called on all stakeholders to continue supporting this vital mission, emphasizing the collective effort required to build a drug-free Nigeria.
