Telecom
A Look into the Fight Against Substance Abuse in Nigeria with ASAP

Substance abuse remains a pressing issue across the globe, with profound implications for public health, social cohesion, and economic stability. In Nigeria, the statistics are clear: approximately 40% of the youth population, between the ages of 18-35, are caught in the grip of drug addiction. This trend endangers individual health, undermining the nation’s productivity and progress in the future.
The MTN Foundation, through its Anti Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP), has emerged as a pivotal force in the fight against this growing crisis. Launched in 2019, ASAP is a multifaceted initiative designed to raise awareness about the devastating effects of substance abuse and addiction among Nigerian youth. For over 5 years, MTN Foundation has mobilised a coalition dedicated to tackling this issue head-on.
Central to ASAP’s strategy are advocacy walks, educational programs, and stakeholder conferences held across key cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt. These initiatives serve to educate and empower communities to take a proactive stance against substance abuse. One of ASAP’s flagship events is its annual Stakeholder Conference where stakeholders gather to discuss strategies and share insights on combating substance abuse.
Similarly, at a national level, the National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in collaboration with MTN and the United Nations on Drug and Crime (UNODC), holds an annual National Conference on World Drug Day, for the same purpose. This year’s theme, “The evidence is clear: invest in prevention,” shows the importance of early intervention and education in mitigating the impact of substance abuse.
The urgency of addressing substance abuse cannot be overstated. Beyond its immediate health consequences, substance abuse erodes social cohesion, diminishes educational attainment, and hampers economic progress. The MTN ASAP campaign, with its holistic approach and collaborative partnerships, represents a significant source of optimism in this struggle. By fostering a culture of prevention and support, ASAP seeks to deter initial experimentation with drugs and offers a lifeline to those already grappling with addiction.
As Odunayo Sanya, Executive Director of MTN Foundation, aptly puts it, “It is everyone’s fight, because their high is our low.” This sentiment resonates deeply as Nigerians unite under the banner of ASAP, reaffirming their commitment to safeguarding the well-being and future of the nation’s youth. Through its advocacy walks and educational initiatives, MTN Foundation and its partners reaffirm their resolve to combat substance abuse and empower a generation resilient to its influence.
In conclusion, combating substance abuse is not just a moral imperative but a strategic necessity for Nigeria’s sustainable development. Through initiatives like ASAP, MTN Foundation demonstrates leadership in addressing one of the most pressing challenges facing Nigerian society today.
Telecom
MTN’s ₦31.75Bn Investment in Health Lauded at Arthur Mbanefo Lecture

MTN Foundation has been spotlighted as a model for private sector-driven healthcare development in Nigeria, following commendations at the 6th Arthur Mbanefo Lecture held at the University of Lagos, Akoka.
Themed “A Healthy Nation is a Wealthy Nation: The Role of Impact Investments and Sustainable Financing in Nigeria,” the lecture featured Dr. Tolulope Adewole, Managing Director of NSIA Advanced Medical Services Limited (MedServe), as keynote speaker.
Dr. Adewole praised the Foundation’s strategic investments, noting that MTN commits 1% of its profit after tax annually to development sectors. “They’ve invested ₦31.75 billion, reaching over 32 million Nigerians. Though only 25% went to health, it accounted for 51% of all lives impacted. That’s catalytic,” he said.
He cited MTN’s dialysis centre programme as a transformative intervention for patients with kidney disease, and highlighted community-focused initiatives like the Y’ello Doctor mobile scheme and ‘What Can We Do Together’ (WCWDT) programme, which revitalised 164 Primary Healthcare Centres, including 44 in 2024 alone.
Executive Director of MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya, reflected on the COVID-19 pandemic’s exposure of systemic health vulnerabilities. “When COVID hit, we realised a health emergency is also an economic and social emergency,” she said.
Sanya revealed that of the 52 PHCs remodeled in 2024, only one had clean water. “I’m not a doctor, but I know you can’t live a good life without clean water,” she added, reaffirming the Foundation’s commitment to bridging healthcare gaps in underserved communities.
Telecom
PIN to Empower 20 Million Youths with New Digital Rights Board Game

Hundreds of university students across Africa are set to benefit from a new gamified learning experience on digital rights and inclusion launched by the leading pan-African non-profit organisation, Paradigm Initiative (PIN).
The Digital Rights and Inclusion Board Learning Experience (DRIBLE) is a game developed by Paradigm Initiative with support from the Open Society Foundations (OSF). The custom-designed board game provides young individuals with a fun and engaging entry point into digital rights and inclusion conversations, training sessions and storytelling tools.
The board game aims to build digital literacy, deepen understanding of online safety, and introduce young individuals to the organisation’s tools of impact. Currently being piloted in three universities: University of Lagos, Nigeria, the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) in Nairobi, Kenya and the Dakar American University of Science and Technology (DAUST) in Dakar, Senegal, it will enhance interactions and create a holistic experience.
Speaking at the event launch at the University of Lagos, Nigeria, ‘Gbenga Sesan, Paradigm Initiative’s Executive Director, said: “PIN’s vision is to reach 20 million people through our Digital Inclusion and Digital Rights interventions. From Lagos, to Dakar, to Nairobi.. we will use the vehicle of our new Digital Rights and Inclusion Board Learning Experience (DRIBLE) which entails using gamification, training, multimedia materials, tools and other interventions to connect African youth with digital opportunities and protect their digital rights.”
‘Gbenga gave the keynote address on “Digital inclusion at PIN, our Past, Present and Future” and Nnenna Paul-Ugochukwu, the organisation’s Chief Operating Officer, said the goal of the learning experience would be instrumental in raising awareness of digital rights among the youth, building their capacity to address digital rights and inclusion issues in their communities. Prof. Olunifesi Adekunle Suraj shared a goodwill message with the students and other stakeholders.
Paradigm Initiative, which has been operational since 2007, started in a tiny cybercafe in Ajegunle, Lagos, Nigeria. Today, the organisation has expanded its wings to cover six African countries; Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia and Zimbabwe, impacting the livelihoods of over 150,000 young Africans.
The launch of DRIBLE builds on the progress the organisation has made over the years in tackling the challenge of digital exclusion across Africa.
Paradigm Initiative’s tools of impact include Ripoti, a platform that enables individuals to report digital rights violations, Ayeta, a platform that provides digital security resources for stakeholders, more so human rights activists, defenders, journalists and other vulnerable groups, and the organisation’s latest short film, Whispers in the Wires.
Targeted at students, PIN rolled out a Campus Tour in the three universities on the continent starting July 15th, 2025.
Telecom
Meta Cracks Down on Fake Accounts, Deletes 10m Profiles

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has intensified its crackdown on fake accounts and spam, announcing it removed over 10 million fake profiles and roughly 500,000 spam accounts in the first half of 2025.
The sweeping purge is part of Meta’s broader effort to combat impersonation, fake engagement, and content duplication, aiming to elevate authentic creators and improve the quality of content across its platforms.
In a blog post, Meta said: “We’re making progress. In the first half of 2025, we took action on around 500,000 accounts engaged in spammy behaviour or fake engagement. We also removed about 10 million profiles impersonating large content producers.”
Meta stressed that accounts which primarily repost or recycle content without meaningful edits will face penalties such as reduced reach and the loss of monetisation tools.
The company also warned that repeatedly sharing unoriginal content — whether videos, photos, or text — undermines the platform’s integrity by crowding out genuine voices and making it harder for new creators to grow.
To support authentic creators, Meta is rolling out new tools that automatically trace reposted content back to its original source. The company says this will help ensure rightful credit and give higher visibility to original posts.
“Pages and profiles that post mostly original content tend to enjoy wider distribution across Facebook. Simply stitching clips together or adding a watermark will no longer count as meaningful editing. Content that provides real value and tells an authentic story is likely to perform better,” Meta explained.
Creators are also being cautioned against uploading content that includes watermarks from other platforms. Such posts could see their reach restricted or lose monetisation privileges altogether.
As part of its latest update, Meta introduced post-level insights on the Professional Dashboard, allowing creators to monitor how individual posts perform. They can also check their Support Home screen to see if their content or earnings are facing restrictions.
In a parallel development, Google’s YouTube updated its monetisation guidelines, stating that content deemed mass-produced or excessively repetitive will no longer qualify for ad revenue. The announcement initially sparked concern among creators, who feared it was a blanket ban on AI-generated content. YouTube later clarified:
“We welcome creators using AI tools to enhance their storytelling, and channels that use AI in their content remain eligible to monetise.”
Both tech giants say these new policies are aimed at raising content standards and safeguarding genuine creators in a crowded and rapidly evolving digital landscape.
- Telecom2 days ago
MTN’s ₦31.75Bn Investment in Health Lauded at Arthur Mbanefo Lecture
- E-Financial3 days ago
Zenith Banks Leads as 8 Banks Suffer N156Bn Impairment Charges
- Telecom3 days ago
MTN @ Swish Fusion Summit, Showcases 5G Rollout Strategy
- News2 days ago
CAC Flags Three Companies, Warns Nigerians
- E-Business3 days ago
Olatunji, NDPC Boss Calls for Integrated Strategy on Data Privacy, Cyber-Security
- E-Business2 days ago
France Moves to Tackle Online GBV in Africa with $4.3m Funding
- News3 days ago
US Launches ‘Window on America’ @ Ogun Tech Hub
- E-Business3 days ago
Kaspersky Experts Warn of the Risks Hidden Behind QR Codes