Sanwo-Olu’s wife spearheads anti-drug campaign at Caleb University

The First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, June 11, 2026 led officials of the state government and other dignitaries to Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, for the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (WADA 2026). The landmark event, organized in partnership with the Office of the First Lady of Lagos State was designed to chart a bold new course in the campaign against youth substance abuse. It transformed the University into a vibrant hub of public health advocacy, policy engagement and youth mobilisation, with the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat, commissioners, permanent secretaries and wives of the chairmen of the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Authorities (LCDAs), healthcare workers, security agencies, development partners and student leaders in attendance. Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat, and other dignitaries participated in a solidarity awareness walk across the campus. Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of Caleb University, Prof. Olalekan Asikhia, described the summit as a watershed moment in the institution’s commitment to social responsibility and nation-building. He noted that the initiative aligns perfectly with the University's vision of producing graduates who possess not only academic excellence but also the character and values required for societal transformation. In her keynote address, the Lagos first lady said Caleb University represents a strategic milestone in the state's anti-drug advocacy architecture and becomes the third tertiary institution and notably the first private university in the state to be integrated into the initiative. Reflecting on the global theme, "The World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses," she stressed the need for evidence-based and collaborative interventions. Sanwo-Olu lamented the stigma often associated with substance abuse and argued that victims require support, rehabilitation and reintegration rather than rejection and isolation. She pointed to her office's multi-sectoral partnerships with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), MTN Nigeria*, and the Lagos State Ministries of Education, Health and Justice, as well as initiatives such as the Lagos Boy-Child Initiative as initiatives all designed to strengthen prevention, awareness and rehabilitation efforts. Sanwo-Olu, who addressed the students directly, warned them not to seek temporary escape through drugs. She reminded them that today's choices would determine tomorrow's destinies and shape the future of society. In her goodwill messages, wife of the Deputy Governor, enjoined students to build and embrace positive values and reject every form of drug or substance abuse. "Let us walk together: parents, institutions, leaders and government. We all need to build a generation that is purposeful and result-driven," Hamzat stressed.