Compère and Accelerate TV Host Abiodun ‘Beediesiel’ Laaro will host the MTN’ Drug Convos’ webinar titled “Share Facts On Drugs. Save Lives” on Friday, June 25, 2021.
The event, organised by MTN Nigeria in partnership with Netng and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), commemorates the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, also known as ‘World Drug Day.’
The online event will discuss everything around drug abuse, from addiction to how first-time users get hooked. According to a 2018 survey from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the number of drug abusers in Nigeria is 14.4 percent or 14.3 million people aged between 15 and 64 years, and nearly 3 million Nigerians are currently addicted to at least one harmful drug. The data suggest that the prevalence of drug use in Nigeria is more than twice the global average of 5.6 per cent.
“The purpose of this campaign is to stimulate discourse among thought leaders and policymakers from different walks of life, to bring us much closer towards our goal of freeing our future leaders from the evil attraction of drugs and possible addiction to opioids,” says Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, Chairman, MTN Foundation.
Launched in December 2018, MTN’s Anti Substance Abuse Programme is a multi-stakeholder intervention aimed at increasing awareness of substance abuse and addiction among youths. The intervention also seeks to discourage first-time users from taking the first step to possible addiction. The event focuses on building a dynamic platform that will enable young Nigerians to participate actively and contribute to in-depth conversations about substance abuse and addiction.
Some of the keynote speakers at this year’s panel include Executive Secretary of the MTN Foundation Odunayo Sanya, Senior Pastor, House of Freedom Tony Rapu, Country Manager, ViacomCBS Africa Bada Akintunde-Johnson, founder, Pinnacle Medical Services Maymunah Kadiri, Country Representative, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Oliver Stolpe, and Olawale Eso, a young Nigerian recovering from drug abuse. Nnenna (Nenny B) Egwuekwe and David Jones David will moderate different panels.
Register here to be a part of the event and join the conversations with #MTNASAP.
