The observance of this year’s World Drug Day in Lagos became more than a ceremonial event as the Chioma Ajunwa Foundation transformed the occasion into a compelling call for national responsibility, urging Nigerians to confront the growing threat of drug abuse and illicit trafficking with renewed urgency.
Held at the Police College, Lagos, the campaign conference was organized by the foundation in collaboration with the Consul General and the Chinese Community in Nigeria, bringing together law enforcement officers, students and public advocates committed to tackling one of the country’s most persistent social challenges.
Leading the campaign, the foundation’s founder, Chioma Ajunwa-Opara; Africa’s first female Olympic gold medallist and an internationally celebrated sports figure, described drug abuse as a national emergency whose consequences extend far beyond individual addiction. She argued that the crisis continues to erode families, fuel criminality and diminish Nigeria’s global image, making it a responsibility that demands collective action rather than isolated interventions.
Ajunwa also reflected on more than a decade of sustained advocacy by her foundation, expressing disappointment that broader institutional support from government and corporate organization’s has remained limited despite the scale of the challenge. She called for stronger public policies and tougher sanctions against drug traffickers, maintaining that decisive action would significantly curb crime and other social vices.
Representing the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Area Officer commanding the Ports and Cargo Terminal, Tincan Island Command, Ekwu Eucharia, reinforced the global theme, The World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses. She stressed that evolving trafficking networks require equally innovative responses from government institutions, communities and private citizens. She also commended the Chioma Ajunwa Foundation for sustaining a people-driven campaign that combines drug awareness with broader humanitarian support for vulnerable communities.
Adding a legal perspective, Barrister Ngozi Arinze encouraged the students in attendance to build friendships that inspire excellence, make wise life choices and resist the lure of substance abuse, describing those decisions as the foundation for a healthier and more purposeful future.
In line with the vision of the foundation, to reach out to the less privileged, food items and gifts were distributed accordingly.
