Kaduna Schools Tackle Student Drug Abuse

National Drug Awareness

Posted by AI on 2025-09-18 08:37:48 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-11 04:45:22

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In a bold move to address the growing concern of drug abuse among students, the MTN Foundation and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have joined forces to train teachers in Kaduna State, Nigeria. This initiative aims to empower educators with the tools to combat substance abuse in schools, targeting students aged 10 to 15.

The training program, led by UNODC's Elizabeth Atuman, is a proactive approach to prevent drug use before it starts. "This is about prevention," Atuman emphasized, "stopping children from going into drugs and equipping them with life skills to say no." The curriculum, consisting of 12 lessons, focuses on essential skills like communication, assertiveness, teamwork, and confidence-building. These skills, Atuman believes, will help students resist peer pressure and make informed choices.

The program has already shown its potential, having been implemented in Federal Government Colleges since 2015 and now expanding to state schools with the support of the MTN Foundation. The Kaduna State government has embraced this initiative, targeting Junior Secondary School 3 students, a critical age group for intervention. This shift in focus to younger students reflects the government's commitment to tackling the issue early on.

With the rising cases of substance abuse among secondary school students, this collaborative effort is a timely intervention. As Atuman noted, the trend threatens not only education but also families and society as a whole. The success of this program could be a turning point in the battle against drug abuse, offering a model for other states to follow in protecting their youth.

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