Sanwo-Olu's Wife Leads Powerful Campaign Against Drug Abuse at LASU

In a stirring call to action, the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, led an awareness and sensitization campaign against drug abuse at Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, rallying women, stakeholders, and students to join forces in tackling what she described as “a raging war that must be won.”

Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu presented with a plaque by the Vice Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello at the Adovacy event in LASU.

The event, held in commemoration of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, featured an early morning awareness walk and a high-powered sensitization session with university stakeholders, students, and officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

In her keynote address, Dr. Sanwo-Olu emphasized the central role women must play in advocacy, urging mothers, professionals, market leaders, and women across the state to deploy their influence and voices to fight the growing menace of substance abuse.

“This is not a personal war. This is a societal war that affects everyone,” the First Lady declared passionately. “From the child taking alcohol at age five to the adult abusing drugs and committing heinous acts, we can no longer afford to be silent. We must use our mouths constructively and mobilize all our networks to fight back.”

Drawing a strong link between drug abuse and a host of societal issues—including mental health, gender-based violence, and insecurity—Dr. Sanwo-Olu noted that the battle was not isolated but interconnected.

“A person on drugs might beat their spouse, or even commit unthinkable crimes. When we see these horrors, we must recognize that we are in a war. And it is a war we must not treat with kid gloves,” she warned.

The Vice Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, welcomed the initiative, noting with concern the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC and the National Bureau of Statistics report ‘that over 14.3 million Nigerians, many of them youth aged 15–24, have reportedly used drugs at least once in the past year—almost triple the global average.’

“These statistics are sobering,” Prof. Olatunji-Bello said. “As an academic community, we have a duty to invest in prevention, education, and support systems that empower our students to make responsible choices. LASU is committed to being a drug-free campus where excellence, creativity, and discipline thrive.”

She commended the First Lady’s “visionary leadership” and called the campaign both “timely and impactful,” urging students to remember: “Say no the first time. Your future is too important to trade for a temporary high.”

Cross section of students and participants during the sensitisation campaign against Drug Abuse in LASU on Thursday.

Also speaking at the event, Head of the NDLEA Lagos State Command, Commander Abubakar Liman Wali, reinforced the agency’s commitment to strategic enforcement, education, and rehabilitation, but stressed that collective responsibility remains crucial.

“Drug abuse is not just a health problem—it threatens our security, economy, and future,” Commander Wali stated. “We need families, schools, traditional institutions, and especially the youth to stand up and say no to drugs and yes to a better, brighter future.”

The campaign forms part of a broader movement to galvanize action across all sectors of society, and the event at LASU marked a significant milestone in grassroots mobilization against drug abuse in Lagos State.

With a growing coalition of advocates, leaders, and institutions uniting for the cause, stakeholders remain optimistic that this war—fought not with weapons but with words, education, compassion, and persistence—can be won.