The Youth Against Disaster Initiative (YADI), in partnership with a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Abdulhameed Yushau, organized academic competitions for secondary school students in Abuja as part of efforts to discourage drug abuse among young Nigerians.
The contests formed the grand finale of the Drug-Free Schools Initiative, a youth-focused advocacy programme designed to educate students on the dangers of substance abuse while promoting responsible decision-making, healthy lifestyles and safer school environments.
In attendance were teachers, education stakeholders, officials of the NYSC, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and corps members in support of the campaign.
At the end of the essay contest, with 84 entries, Ozor Kamsy of Federal Government Boys College, Wuye, emerged as the overall winner. Arafat Ismail of Parliament International School came second, while Nafisat Abbas of Badr Integrated School secured third position.
In the quiz competition, Jamal Oyawoye of Badr Integrated School emerged as the overall winner. Nicodemus Gideon of Government Secondary School (GSS), Apo, took the runner-up spot, while Salma Musa of Parliament International School came third.
YADI Programme Coordinator, Umar Faruk Bala, said the organisation backed the initiative because of the urgent need to shield young people from the menace of drug abuse and substance misuse, stressing that effective prevention requires continuous engagement.
“It is not just about warning students against drugs, but also helping them understand that their future is too valuable to be destroyed by a moment of pleasure, peer pressure or curiosity,” he noted. “Awareness programmes should inspire students to become ambassadors of drug-free living.”
Bala, however, disclosed that YADI plans to sustain the initiative as an annual intervention, with future editions expanding to cover disaster preparedness, responsible digital citizenship, public safety and other youth-related issues.
The initiator of the campaign, Abdulhameed Yushau, said the Drug-Free Schools Initiative was inspired by his concern over the increasing exposure of teenagers to drug abuse and other risky behaviours linked to curiosity, poor guidance, and social and media influence.
He explained that the project featured advocacy lectures, article writing, video production, school sensitisation campaigns and interactive learning sessions designed to deepen students’ understanding of the dangers associated with substance abuse.
Yushau advised students to jealously protect their future by choosing positive friendships, participating in sports and school clubs, acquiring useful skills and avoiding environments associated with drug abuse.
“The quiz and essay competitions were introduced to test students’ understanding of the campaign and motivate them to become strong advocates of drug-free living within their schools and communities,” he added.
During the sensitisation session, Deputy Commandant, NDLEA FCT Command, Aliyu Omama, educated students on the health, psychological, social and academic consequences of drug abuse, urging them to shun negative peer influence, harmful substances, and make responsible choices.
A representative of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mrs. Deborah Dada, encouraged the students to channel their energy into digital innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship and skills acquisition as positive alternatives to drug abuse and misconduct.
Teachers and participating students lauded the initiative as reflecting the core objectives of the NYSC Community Development Service (CDS), which encourages corps members to identify societal challenges and implement practical solutions within their host communities.
The educational event coincided with World Drug Day, established by the UN General Assembly in 1987 and observed every year on June 26. The 2026 theme is “World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses.”
