On June 26, 2023, MTN Foundation partnering with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) hosted a national conference on anti-substance abuse at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Abuja.

The conference commemorated World Drug Day and served as a platform for stakeholders to discuss  the role of policy making  and responsibilities of people and organizations in the fight against substance abuse.

Speaking at the event, Director, MTN Foundation, Dennis Okoro at the State House in Abuja said, “We believe through the power of collaboration, we will build a better nation. We must find stronger ways to reinforce the fight against inappropriate access to substances and  abuse of substances. I would like to specially thank our partners, NDLEA, UNODC and other media partners for making this year’s programme a success. As a matter of urgency, we must scale up this fight against illicit drug use, so that we can in the shortest possible time, have a nation free of drug abuse.”

Notable guests at the conference include the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ably represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation of Nigeria, George Akume;  15th Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, Honourable Tajudeen Abbas, represented by the deputy speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Benjamin Kalu; Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Beatrice Jeddy-Agba and Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe.

Founder of Nike Art Gallery, Nike Davies-Okundaye; Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (RTD,OFR); Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya; and Country Director, UNODC, Dr Oliver Stolpe, were also present.

This year, with the   theme – “It’s Everyone’s Fight,” the MTN Foundation partnered with the NDLEA, the Ministry of Education, Businessday, NET.ng and the UNODC to expand the awareness initiatives on the anti-substance abuse programme. Activities to commemorate the event included capacity-building training for teachers across six major states, a quiz competition for secondary school students, sensitization using drama troupe, an advocacy walk and the national conference.

The MTN Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) is a multi-sectoral initiative spearheaded by the MTN Foundation to impact and make a significant change in the fight against substance abuse and addiction by delivering interventions that will help reduce the rate of first-time drug abuse among the youth.