Femi Gbajabiamila Pledges ₦50m Support for Ugokwe-Led Campaign Against Social Vices in Schools

 

Femi Gbajabiamila Pledges ₦50m Support for Ugokwe-Led Campaign Against Social Vices in Schools

The Presidency has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling rising social vices in Nigeria’s secondary and tertiary institutions, with Chief of Staff to the President, Rt Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, pledging a ₦50 million seed donation to support the Special Committee on Campaign Against Social Vices in Secondary and Tertiary Institutions.

The assurance was given on Thursday at the State House, Abuja, during a meeting between the Chief of Staff and members of the committee led by its Chairman, Jerry Ugokwe.

Gbajabiamila described the committee’s mandate as critical to Nigeria’s future, noting that its designation as a “special committee” underscores the importance of its assignment, which focuses on the moral development and wellbeing of young Nigerians.

He warned that rising social vices among youths have become a growing national and global concern, stressing that deliberate and coordinated action is required to safeguard the country’s future.

“Young people are often described as the future, but that future must be secured through conscious efforts,” he said, emphasising that government reforms are largely forward-looking and targeted at empowering the younger generation.

The Chief of Staff called for a whole-of-society approach in addressing the menace, urging parents, teachers, religious leaders, community members and institutions to take collective responsibility for value reorientation among students.

“It takes a community to raise a child. We cannot sit back and do nothing and expect this country to grow if we do not start from the foundation,” he stated.

Gbajabiamila also highlighted the link between law and morality, stressing that moral re-orientation is fundamental to addressing issues such as cultism, drug abuse, examination malpractice and cybercrime in schools.

He encouraged the committee to think innovatively and adapt to changing realities, drawing from his personal experience of engaging students directly during school visits. He assured members of the Federal Government’s readiness to collaborate, including mobilising support from corporate organisations through Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives and exploring budgetary provisions.

As part of his personal commitment, Gbajabiamila announced a ₦50 million donation to support the committee’s activities, to be disbursed in two tranches starting with ₦25 million. He further assured the committee of sustained engagement from his office.

Earlier, Professor Ugokwe expressed appreciation for the audience and described the initiative as a structured presidential intervention aimed at confronting social vices among students nationwide.

He explained that the committee’s mandate includes identifying and addressing social vices in schools, promoting discipline and responsible leadership, and working closely with institutional authorities and security agencies to curb cultism, drug abuse, examination malpractice and related offences.

According to him, the committee is also tasked with organising sensitisation campaigns and recommending policies to strengthen student welfare, campus security and academic excellence.

Ugokwe disclosed that since its inauguration, the committee has moved into action, holding major engagements in Edo and Kwara States as part of its nationwide drive. He appealed for strategic backing and logistical support for a proposed grand national launch of the campaign at the State House Conference Hall.

Also speaking, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, , underscored the urgency of the intervention, citing recent incidents linked to drug abuse among students as a wake-up call for a coordinated national response.

Asefon revealed that following the committee’s inauguration, his office engaged the Federal Ministry of Education, which subsequently made a budgetary provision for the committee in the 2025 fiscal year.

He described the committee as a multi-stakeholder platform bringing together education authorities, religious leaders and other critical actors to drive holistic value reorientation among Nigerian students.

Despite limited resources, he noted that the committee has already conducted programmes in Edo and Kwara States and is planning a broader national engagement in Abuja.

The Presidency reiterated that addressing social vices among young people remains central to the administration’s youth development and nation-building agenda.