Odunayo Sanya has announced a new partnership between the MTN Foundation, the Office of the Vice President of Nigeria, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to conduct Nigeria’s first national substance use survey among secondary school students.

The partnership commitment was signed on April 30 and aims to generate comprehensive community-level data on substance use across all 774 local government areas in the country.

According to Sanya, the survey, which is fully funded by MTN Foundation, represents a significant step toward addressing substance abuse among Nigerian youths through evidence-based research and policy intervention.

She noted that the initiative is designed to provide reliable data that will support informed policymaking, targeted investments, and more effective intervention programmes aimed at reducing substance abuse among young people.

Sanya emphasized that the collaboration reflects a shared commitment among stakeholders to safeguarding the health, wellbeing, and future of Nigerian youths through sustainable and data-driven solutions.

The nationwide survey is expected to contribute to broader national efforts to better understand the scale and patterns of substance use among adolescents and strengthen preventive measures within schools and communities.

The initiative also aligns with ongoing efforts by MTN Nigeria and its foundation to support youth development, education, and public health interventions across the country.