“MTN, NDLEA Unveil Free Counselling Helpline, Expand Anti-Drug Campaign in Schools”

The MTN Foundation, in partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has introduced a 24/7 psychosocial support helpline — 08010203040 — to provide Nigerians with free access to professional counselling in multiple local languages.

The initiative was unveiled on Monday in Kaduna during a stakeholders’ workshop on teachers’ training. The helpline forms part of the MTN Foundation’s broader Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP), designed to train 1,440 teachers and sensitise 86,400 public secondary school students across 12 states.

Speaking at the launch, MTN Foundation representative Abubakar Zubairu highlighted that the programme would also feature quiz competitions, NYSC-led community outreach, and a three-day training for 60 secondary school teachers in Kaduna and Kwara States.

“Our convenings in Lagos and Abuja strengthened multi-sectoral partnerships in this fight,” Zubairu said. “The Kaduna and Kwara trainings will also pave the way for a digital framework to expand impact. This subject matter must be scaled, and we trust stakeholders will support this cause as we work towards a drug-free nation.”

The Foundation stressed that the real measure of success lies not only in the number of participants but in the long-term shift in attitudes and behaviours among young people.

Earlier, in Ilorin, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in collaboration with the Kwara State Government and MTN Foundation, trained 30 secondary school teachers under the “Unplugged Teachers Training” programme, with plans to extend the training to 1,440 teachers, reaching about 86,400 students.

The two-day workshop equipped teachers with decision-making, social skills, and resilience-building strategies to prevent drug use and support students already affected by addiction.

With its combined focus on teacher training, student sensitisation, community outreach, and psychosocial support, the MTN Foundation’s 2025 campaign seeks to strengthen schools and communities while empowering young Nigerians to stay drug-free.