MTN Foundation Partners with UNODC, NDLEA to Train Students and Teachers on Drug Awareness

The MTN Foundation has launched a large-scale educational campaign to combat drug abuse, targeting 86,400 public secondary school students and 1,440 teachers across 12 states, including Kwara State.

The initiative was unveiled during a stakeholders’ workshop in Ilorin, where MTN Senior Manager Chinyere Ikechi explained that the programme, Unplugged Teachers Training on Drug Prevention, is designed to equip teachers with the knowledge and strategies to guide students away from drugs.

She noted that prevention through education remains the most effective approach:
“We are investing in prevention rather than cure by training teachers, running community outreaches, and engaging students in interactive competitions and workshops. Our aim is to empower young people to become advocates and ambassadors of a drug-free society.”

The programme, jointly supported by the Kwara State Government, UNODC, and NDLEA, includes a three-day training for teachers in Kwara and Kaduna States. Post-training, teachers will continue to engage, monitor, and mentor students to ensure lasting impact.

Representing the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Maria Ilugbuhi underscored the urgency of drug education. She cited alarming statistics: “One in every seven Nigerians is a drug user, and unless preventive measures are scaled, the numbers could rise by 40% by 2030.” She stressed the need for comprehensive strategies that prioritize education, prevention, and early support.

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented by Senior Adviser Alh Saadu Salahu, commended MTN Foundation for its commitment to a drug-free future. He urged teachers to embrace their role in shaping students into responsible leaders and linked drug education directly to reducing security challenges in the country.

Other speakers, including the governor’s Special Assistant on Drug Abuse Prevention and Control, Aileru Olamilekan, described the workshop as significant for adopting the globally recognized Unplugged model, which equips teachers to educate students about the dangers of drug use in a structured, school-based approach.

The NDLEA’s Kwara State Command also pledged continued collaboration, highlighting recent successes in intercepting illicit drugs and affirming its resolve to sustain the fight.

By prioritizing prevention through education, the MTN Foundation and its partners are building a framework where schools serve not only as centers of learning, but also as safe spaces for nurturing healthier, drug-free communities.