MTN Nigeria and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have joined forces to tackle the growing menace of drug abuse among youths in Enugu State.
The partnership was inaugurated during the first-ever “Advocacy Walk Against Drug Abuse” on Saturday, part of MTN’s Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP).
The Enugu State NDLEA Commander, Mr. Abel Wadahi, revealed that more than 400,000 people, mostly youths, are involved in drug abuse across the state.
Wadahi emphasized that the youth bear the brunt of this menace, saying, “the youth bear the brunt of this menace, which is why we are focusing our efforts on them. We want to empower them as ambassadors to bridge generational gaps and help eradicate drug abuse.”*
Wadahi warned about the dangers of “mkpurummiri” (methamphetamine), stating, “Mkpurummiri is especially dangerous, causing mental health disorders and leaving many users vulnerable on our streets. Urgent intervention is critical.”*
Representing MTN Nigeria, Pamela Emodi, Manager of Youth Development, stressed the importance of education and partnership in the fight against substance abuse.
“MTN ASAP targets youths aged 10 to 25
through a comprehensive, multi-sector approach,” she said.
The NDLEA has conducted outreach activities in over 135 locations, educating more than 69,000 people on the risks of drug abuse. MTN’s ASAP programme has reached over 91 million Nigerians since its launch in 2019.
The programme aims to train 86,000 students and 1,500 teachers in 12 additional states this year .
