In a concerted effort to address the issue of substance abuse among secondary school students in Nigeria, the MTN Foundation, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drug and Crimes (UNODC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has launched the Unplugged training program.
This initiative aims to empower 180 secondary school teachers from 60 schools across Lagos, Imo, Kaduna, Delta, Gombe, and Abuja with effective anti-substance abuse strategies.
During the Unplugged training in Lagos state, held on Monday, July 10, 2023, Ronke Matuluko, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Education Lagos, expressed optimism about the program’s potential impact on students in high drug zones in the state.
She emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to student welfare and lauded the training for equipping teachers with the knowledge and tools to educate their students about the dangers of substance abuse and the importance of prevention.
The Unplugged training is an evidence-based anti-substance prevention program developed in partnership with UNODC. It focuses on comprehensive social influence and targets young people as they approach adolescence.
The program consists of 12 lessons designed to build life skills in young individuals, making them more resilient against the use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs.
Citing a 2018 study on substance use among secondary school students in select Nigerian states, the program’s impact is further underscored. The study revealed that students who had not received formal lectures on substance abuse at school were significantly more likely to engage in substance abuse compared to those who had received such education.
Ruth Owotumi, a representative of UNODC and an unplugged trainer, explained the significance of the training for teachers and its potential to create a positive influence on young minds. The program equips teachers with effective sensitization techniques and instruments to address social influences and prevent substance abuse among their students.
Odunayo Sanya, Executive Secretary of MTN Foundation, highlighted that the Unplugged training program serves as an essential avenue for collaborative efforts with the government in curbing the pandemic of substance abuse in Nigeria.
Through the joint efforts of MTN Foundation, UNODC, NDLEA, and the Ministry of Education, this impactful initiative aims to create a safer and healthier environment for Nigerian students by educating and empowering them to make informed choices and reject substance abuse.
“the reality of substance abuse in Nigeria, especially among the youths, is one we must no longer ignore, that is why at the MTN Foundation, we are partnering with the government to fight this pandemic. With the unplugged training in partnership with UNODC, we hope to influence secondary school students against the use of substances and make them ambassadors who will champion the anti-substance abuse cause”, she said.
The Unplugged training is an integral element of the 2023 Anti-Substance Abuse Program (ASAP), an initiative initiated by the MTN Foundation in 2019. Its aim is to implement interventions that will substantially reduce the prevalence of drug abuse among young Nigerians.
