Dr. Martin Agwogie, Founder and Executive Director of the Global Initiative on Substance Abuse (GISA), has called on all levels of government to intensify efforts to curb substance abuse across Nigeria.

Dr. Agwogie made this appeal at the recent conclusion of a seven-week intensive training program organized by GISA on Strengthening Families, held in Ijere-Elelede Pakuro community, Ogun State.

He stated, “The government needs to do more to address substance abuse in the country. They should identify and support impactful projects like this and partner with NGOs that are making a difference. Supporting them financially would go a long way.”

“We were able to execute this project because we received funding from the UNODC. The question is, what is our government doing? The local, state, and federal governments—what are they doing to support initiatives like this? Government support for such initiatives could make a significant impact,” Dr. Agwogie said.

He added, “Substance abuse prevention should not be left solely to the government. This is why GISA organized this initiative.”

Dr. Agwogie further explained that Strengthening Families is part of GISA’s evidence-based interventions for substance use prevention. “GISA promotes evidence-based initiatives in substance use prevention, including treatment and policy contributions, through capacity building, practice, research, and publications.”

He emphasized that preventing drug use or abuse begins with the family. “Research shows that the family is often overlooked in substance abuse prevention. Addressing risk factors for substance abuse can be achieved through the family. Our focus is on strengthening family bonds, good monitoring practices, and better parenting skills to reduce the risks of drug and substance abuse.”

He added, “Families with strong communication skills, where parents spend time with their children and understand their emotional needs, help bridge communication gaps that might otherwise be filled by negative peer influences. Children sometimes seek attention missing at home, and when they find it among peers, they may be drawn toward substances and other social vices.”

Outlining the program structure, Dr. Agwogie said, “We selected 40 participants—20 parents and 20 children aged 12 to 14—to take part in this program. Participants attended separate sessions for parents and children, as well as joint sessions, over seven weeks. This setup promoted interaction and bonding. For sustainability, trainers from the community were involved, and this program is being implemented in eight communities in Ogun State.”

“We selected two trainers from each community, trained them at our Lagos facility for three days, and then they returned to their communities to train parents and adolescents,” he added.

Encouraging participants, Dr. Agwogie said, “You are now ambassadors for drug and substance use prevention. The training and activities you completed over the past seven weeks aim to strengthen families and foster bonding so that children, in particular, can fulfill their potential. They can only do so if they are not distracted by ‘the forces of darkness’—drug abuse.”

The goal, he said, was to ensure children are well-guided, supported, and brought up in a way that allows them to fulfill their potential and perhaps become global figures. “I cannot thank everyone enough for being part of this.”

One parent, Farida Aminu, shared her experience: “I learned so much from this program, especially about bonding with my family and my community. It brought us closer and taught me how to better handle teenagers.”

Another parent, Kondwe Asisadewane, commented, “Over these past seven weeks, I’ve learned about intentional parenting and bonding with my children, especially my teenagers. I also learned that creating an atmosphere of love within the family is essential. Parents should care for their children, and children should reciprocate this love. We should avoid being too harsh, as it may discourage them from sharing their problems with us.”

He added, “We should show our children that we love and care for them and are ready to support them whenever they face challenges.”

Another parent, identified as Alfa, reflected on his experience, saying, “This program has strengthened my relationship with my children. I’ve learned to listen to them, bond with them, and apply appropriate discipline when necessary.”

One teenage participant said, “I learned the SMART principle—how to set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals. I also learned about handling peer pressure, managing stress, and showing appreciation to our parents.”

Olu Oguntoyinbo, Chairman of the Community Development Association in Ijere-Elelede Pakuro, thanked the organizers for choosing Pakuro community for the project. “We have many villages here, and participants were selected from various communities. Some traveled long distances to be part of this program. We’re grateful for this initiative, as it benefits both families and the entire community,” he said.

Oguntoyinbo encouraged participants to become ambassadors for the project, reminding them to educate others on what they had learned to spread positive changes and reduce issues within the community.

Pastor Emeka Onye of RCCG King’s Parish, Land of Mercy Estate, expressed gratitude for everyone who participated. He also conveyed appreciation from Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of RCCG, for GISA’s initiative, which he said benefited the community.

He added that the parish holds monthly CSR projects. “The organizers hope the positive impact of this program will spread from families to communities and, eventually, throughout the nation.”