The Presidency has donated N50 million to support a national campaign against social vices in secondary and tertiary institutions.
Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to the President announced the donation during a meeting with the special committee on the campaign against social vices in secondary and tertiary institutions at the state house, Abuja.
He noted that the fund would be released in two tranches starting with N25 million.
Gbajabiamila described rising social vices among youths as a serious challenge that has assumed “near-pandemic proportions globally.”
He said, “we cannot sit back and do nothing and expect this country to grow or develop if we do not start from the foundation.
“It takes a community to raise a child. It’s not just about the parents anymore; it’s about the clergy, your neighbour, the teachers. We all stand in loco parentis for the children.”
He warned that failure to properly guide young people could undermine the long-term benefits of ongoing government reforms targeted at the youth population.
Gbajabiamila stressed that addressing the problem requires a collective effort involving parents, teachers, religious leaders and communities.
Prof. Jerry Ugokwe, chairman of the committee said the body was established to identify and tackle social vices in schools, including cultism, drug abuse, examination malpractice and cybercrime.
He said the committee has already begun nationwide sensitisation campaigns with programmes held in Edo and Kwara states, while plans are underway for a national launch in Abuja.
Sunday Asefon, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement said the initiative was necessary due to increasing cases of youth involvement in crime and drug abuse.
“Such incidents underscore the need for a coordinated national response to rising social vices among young people,” he said.
He added that the committee had secured budgetary provision through the Federal Ministry of Education and would continue expanding its activities across the country.
