The Federal Government has thrown its weight behind a new nationwide drug abuse awareness campaign initiated by the Board of Fellows of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (BOF-PSN), as key government officials and healthcare leaders converge to advocate for mental health as a basic human right and national development priority.
The campaign was unveiled during the 7th Annual Public Lecture of the BOF-PSN, held at Festival Hotel, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos, under the theme: “Mental Health as a Basic Human Right: Crucial to Personal, Community, and Socio-Economic Development.” Speaking at the event, the BOF-PSN National Chairman, Pharm. Uchenna Uzoma Apakama, stressed the urgent need to address substance abuse through community-wide sensitization. He vowed to lead the Society’s efforts in ensuring that drug abuse education reaches every part of the country, with the goal of changing perceptions and reducing the devastating consequences of addiction.
The lecture attracted the presence and endorsement of high-ranking stakeholders, including the Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd), and the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, both of whom pledged full support for the initiative.
Brig. Gen. Marwa described the campaign as a timely and necessary intervention in the nation’s ongoing war against drug trafficking and abuse. He commended the BOF-PSN for leading the charge in public health education, affirming that pharmacists are critical actors at the intersection of healthcare delivery and drug control. According to him, the fight against substance abuse demands a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder approach that places healthcare professionals at the core of public engagement strategies. Marwa also emphasized the broader mental health implications of addiction, warning that behind every drug user is often a family or community in distress. He reaffirmed the NDLEA’s commitment to working collaboratively with pharmacists and other health professionals to stem the illegal sale and misuse of prescription drugs.
In his remarks, Speaker Obasa underscored the growing mental health challenges facing Nigerians and the importance of addressing them in tandem with substance abuse. He called for the protection of vulnerable populations, asserting that every Nigerian, regardless of socio-economic background, deserves access to quality mental healthcare. Obasa referenced the Lagos State Mental Health Law of 2018, which he noted as a model for integrating mental health services into primary healthcare delivery, safeguarding patient rights, and combating stigma. He also urged pharmacists to remain vigilant in identifying and reporting counterfeit and unregulated medications that contribute to the crisis.
Keynote speaker at the event, Dr. Gbonjubola Abiri, a consultant psychiatrist and psychologist, delivered an impassioned address that called for a national shift in mindset around mental wellness. She noted that mental health is not only a medical issue but also a societal one, adding that all individuals exist along a continuum of mental wellbeing. According to her, societal pressure, economic hardship, and lack of support structures can push individuals into mental distress, which, if left unaddressed, may spiral into substance dependence or other harmful behaviors. Dr. Abiri emphasized that acknowledging mental health as a fundamental human right is essential to driving change in health policy, community attitudes, and institutional frameworks.
The public lecture brought together top officials, regulatory heads, healthcare executives, and professional pharmacists from across the country, with discussions centered on aligning mental health advocacy with national development strategies. Participants agreed that breaking the stigma surrounding mental illness and addiction is a critical step in fostering inclusive and equitable health outcomes.
As the BOF-PSN prepares to roll out its grassroots-focused awareness campaign, the unified support from federal and state institutions signals a renewed national commitment to combating drug abuse and promoting mental health. The event concluded with a call to action for policymakers, healthcare professionals, educators, and citizens to work collectively in safeguarding the mental and emotional well-being of all Nigerians.
This initiative, anchored in the belief that mental health is a right—not a privilege—reinforces the federal government’s commitment to building a safer, healthier, and more resilient nation.
Reporting by Niran Odufayo