The MTN Foundation has intensified its campaign against substance abuse among young Nigerians, announcing plans to reach over 20,000 students in 50 public secondary schools across 10 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This expansion is part of the Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP), which also includes specialized training for 250 teachers.
ASAP stakeholder conference in Ilorin
The initiative was unveiled at the ASAP stakeholder conference held in Ilorin, Kwara State, to mark the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Chairman of the MTN Foundation, Dr. Mosun Belo-Olusoga, described substance abuse as a pressing threat to Nigerian youths, emphasizing the need for sustained collaboration among government institutions, schools, families, development partners, and the private sector.
States covered and programme activities
Dr. Belo-Olusoga, represented by Valentina Obayemi, Senior Lead for Sales and Trade Development in Ilorin, disclosed that the programme would be implemented in Abuja, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Enugu, Kano, Katsina, Kwara, Oyo, and Taraba states. Participating students will benefit from drug awareness education and quiz competitions designed to discourage illicit substance use and promote healthy lifestyles.
Teachers selected for the programme will be equipped with practical skills to identify early warning signs of substance abuse, provide support for vulnerable students, and facilitate referrals where necessary.
Dr. Belo-Olusoga added that the increasing availability of new psychoactive substances and emerging drug-related threats make early intervention and preventive education more critical than ever. The Foundation pledged to strengthen partnerships with tertiary institutions through advocacy campaigns, deepen grassroots engagement with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and sustain support for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency's (NDLEA) 24-hour toll-free psychosocial support helpline.
Impact since 2019
Manager of the MTN Foundation, Joseph Apata, highlighted the programme's growing impact since its launch in 2019. He noted that ASAP has become one of the country's leading private-sector interventions against substance abuse, reaching 50,433 students, training 1,556 teachers, and generating awareness among over 100 million Nigerians through digital campaigns, stakeholder engagements, and community-based interventions across 32 states and the FCT.
Apata explained that the Foundation's intervention strategy combines awareness creation, capacity building, and stakeholder engagement. Activities include advocacy walks in tertiary institutions, drug awareness education in schools, quiz competitions, leadership development projects, training for teachers, corps members, and civil society organizations, as well as support for drug prevention and treatment initiatives.
In partnership with the NDLEA, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and other stakeholders, the Foundation has maintained a nationwide campaign aimed at reducing first-time substance abuse among young people aged 10 to 25. "The goal is not only to create awareness but also to reduce stigma against substance users, encourage access to treatment and rehabilitation services, and build a network of stakeholders committed to safeguarding the future of Nigerian youths," Apata said.
Corps members participating in the programme undergo orientation and specialized training under the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) Community Development Service group, enabling them to carry out sensitization campaigns in their communities while strengthening referral pathways to NDLEA support services and rehabilitation centres.
MTN Foundation's broader impact
Since its establishment in 2004 as the corporate social responsibility vehicle of MTN Nigeria, the Foundation has invested over N32.2 billion in social development initiatives spanning health, capacity building, and economic empowerment. These interventions have impacted over 32 million lives in 3,604 communities across 590 local government areas in the 36 states and the FCT.
Call to action from officials
Commissioner for Youth Development, Ambassador Ndanusa Usman, urged the eradication of drug abuse from the NYSC scheme and called on parents and guardians to pay greater attention to their wards, stating that the future of their children is worth more than daily attention to other social involvements.
The Speaker of the State Assembly, Eng. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, urged youths to achieve their full potential by strictly avoiding abuse of illicit drugs.
