Osetoba leads the way charge as Ekiti youths march against drugs…Commends NDLEA, youth organisations

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye 11.2.2026
Ekiti State Technical Advisor on Sports Development, Dr Olusola Osetoba, has again stepped beyond the touchline of sports to the frontline of youth protection, rallying young people, students and critical stakeholders in Emure Local Government Area for an anti-drug awareness drive.
The high-impact campaign, staged to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, saw Emure youths take over the streets in a colourful but hard-hitting placard walk, sending a clear message, Ekiti youths choose purpose over pills.
Organised by the Nigerian Youth Congress, Emure Youths Movement and Students’ Union Leaders, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the sensitization rally attracted a wide spectrum of stakeholders, civil society actors and community leaders.
Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials bearing sharp, conversation starting messages were distributed across the town, turning the streets into moving classrooms on the dangers of substance abuse.
At the heart of the mobilisation was Dr Osetoba, whose role in Ekiti has increasingly fused sports development, youth empowerment and public health advocacy into a single mission.
Addressing participants, Osetoba warned that drug addiction is fast becoming a public health emergency among young people, stressing that the fight against substance abuse must go beyond slogans.
“Drug abuse is not just a moral issue; it is a scientific, social and developmental challenge,” she said.
“If we want a strong sporting culture, productive youths and a safe society, we must tackle addiction with data, education, early intervention and sustained community engagement.”
She noted that sports remains one of the most powerful tools for prevention, describing it as a platform that instills discipline, purpose and positive peer influence.
According to her, Ekiti’s sports development agenda is deliberately aligned with youth-focused programmes that keep young people engaged, healthy and away from destructive habits.
Osetoba commended the NDLEA and youth organisations for taking ownership of the campaign, adding that youth-led advocacy is critical to winning the war against drugs.
The Emure rally reinforced Dr Osetoba’s growing reputation as more than a sports administrator.
From grooming grassroots talents to championing youth development policies and now driving anti-drug advocacy, she continues to play multiple, interconnected roles in shaping a healthier and more resilient generation of Ekiti youths.
As the placards came down and the march ended, the message lingered across Emure, in Ekiti, the fight for sports excellence and youth development now includes a firm stand against drug abuse and Dr Olusola Osetoba is firmly at the centre of that push.