Kwara State’s Special Assistant to the Governor on Drug Abuse Prevention and Control, Aileru Olamilekan Mikail, says empowering teachers with the right tools and knowledge is key to creating drug-free schools across the state.
Mikail made this declaration during the closing ceremony of an intensive four-day Unplugged Teachers Training on Drug Prevention programme that ended September 12 in Ilorin.
The September 9-12 training brought together education stakeholders, policymakers, and handpicked teachers from across the state for a mission that could reshape Kwara’s educational landscape forever.
The programme enjoyed partnership with MTN Foundation, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), creating a formidable alliance against youth substance abuse.
The training followed a strategic two-phase approach that maximized impact.
Day One kicked off with a Stakeholders’ Engagement Session where government representatives, education authorities, civil society groups, and security agencies hammered out strategies to strengthen school-based prevention.
Days Two to Four delivered the main course – intensive Teachers’ Training. Participants received hands-on training on the Unplugged curriculum, a globally recognized, evidence-based methodology designed to promote resilience, life skills, and healthy decision-making among adolescents.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Mikail declared: “Teachers play a vital role in shaping the future of our children. By empowering them with the right tools and knowledge, Kwara State is ensuring that our classrooms become safe spaces where students are guided towards healthy, drug-free lifestyles.”
“This is not just an educational intervention, it is a social investment in our youth and our future,” he added.
Mukail extended special appreciation to MTN Foundation for their partnership commitment.
MTN Foundation representative Chinyere Ikechi, Sales and Development Manager for Kwara Business Area at MTN Nigeria, reinforced the Foundation’s youth-focused mission.
“At MTN Foundation, we believe that education and health go hand in hand. Supporting Kwara State in this initiative reflects our dedication to building stronger, healthier communities,” she stated.
She projected: “The knowledge shared here today will not only empower teachers but will also ripple out to touch the lives of thousands of students across the state.”
The NDLEA equally pledged continued collaboration in sustaining the programme and monitoring its impact across schools statewide.
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The Kwara State Government assures citizens that the Unplugged training will be integrated into schools across the state. The trained teachers will serve as frontline advocates for prevention, turning every classroom into a drug-abuse battleground.
“This milestone reinforces the Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq administration’s broader agenda of promoting quality education, protecting public health, and securing a drug-free future for the next generation,” Mikhail concluded.
