Hanks Anuku was a prominent actor in Nollywood in the early 2000s. He was notable for his foreign accent and usually starred as the villain in movies. Slowly, Hanks became less frequent in movies and he later admitted in an interview that he had battled with mental problems as a result of alcohol and drugs.
Whitney Houston, an American best-selling recording artiste, is one of those whose use of drugs has led to an untimely demise. Popularly known as ‘The Voice,’ it was reported that she had drowned accidentally in a bathtub and her toxicology report revealed that she had used cocaine shortly before her death.
From Britney Spears to Hanks Anuku, and then Whitney Houston, there is a long list of celebrities and influential individuals whose promising careers have ended abruptly due to their use of illicit drugs. Away from public figures, many young Nigerians have equally lost their lives as a result of substance abuse.
Since 2019, MTN Foundation has been at the forefront of drug abuse advocacy and conversations through its Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP), which aims at creating awareness, helping first-time drug users, and curbing substance use. For three years, the Foundation has engaged both government and private sectors in their campaign against substance abuse and its economic impact on the country.
Here are five ways MTN is spreading awareness of drug abuse across the country.
Unplugged Training
To curb the increasing cases of drug use among students, who are easily influenced by peer pressure, there is a need for them to be fully aware of the dangers of taking hard drugs. Through the unplugged training, teachers in Nigerian public secondary schools are equipped with adequate knowledge and skills to engage their students on the effects of drugs and how they impact their productivity and career pursuit.
Volunteer Training
Aside from training secondary school teachers, this year’s Anti-Substance Abuse Programme will train 30 volunteers to counsel, support, and empower substance users to help them overcome addiction. With the knowledge gained from the training, they will be able to advise first-time users and offer practical steps to ensure they shun drugs before it becomes a case of addiction.
Advocacy Walk
As part of the ASAP initiative, MTN Foundation is organising an advocacy Walk designed to raise awareness of the danger of substance abuse on young Nigerians and its effects on society. Through the Advocacy Walk, MTN will also inform the general public of various activities taking place as a result of the ASAP initiative, including the national conference slated to hold on June 26, 2022, to commemorate World Drug Day.
Peer Education
By organising quiz competitions for secondary school students, MTN ASAP is sensitising teenagers on drug abuse. Participants are expected to serve as advocates of anti-substance abuse in their schools and educate their peers on the negative effects of taking illicit substances.
Partnering with Government Agencies
MTN Foundation has partnered with three key government agencies: the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Ministry of Education to drive this year’s ASAP campaign. With their involvement, MTN ASAP is expanding its reach and impacting more lives.
While MTN continues in its commendable role in fighting drug abuse in Nigeria, government, private sectors, and individuals should key into this year’s ASAP theme, ‘It’s Everyone’s Fight,’ to help spread awareness of drug abuse and the harm it causes to people, communities, and the nation as a whole.
