By Nkechi Eze
The Presidency has thrown its weight behind the Special Committee on Campaign Against Social Vices in Secondary and Tertiary Institutions, with the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, reaffirming strong institutional backing for the initiative and announcing a ₦50 million personal seed donation to support its activities.
Gbajabiamila gave the assurance on Thursday during a meeting with members of the committee led by its Chairman, Professor Jerry Ugokwe, at the State House, Abuja, according to an official statement signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations, State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye.
Describing the committee’s mandate as critical to Nigeria’s future, the Chief of Staff expressed confidence in the integrity and capacity of its members, noting that its designation as a “special committee” underscores the weight and urgency of its assignment, which centres on the wellbeing and moral development of young Nigerians.
He warned that rising social vices among youths have become a growing national concern, stressing that while young people are often described as the future of the country, deliberate and coordinated action is required to secure that future.
According to him, many of the Federal Government’s ongoing reforms are forward-looking and specifically targeted at the younger generation. He cautioned that failure to properly guide and support youths could undermine the long-term gains of those reforms.
Gbajabiamila emphasised that tackling the menace requires a whole-of-society approach involving parents, teachers, religious leaders, communities and relevant institutions, noting that the challenge has assumed near-pandemic proportions globally.
“It takes a community to raise a child, it’s not just about the parents anymore, it’s about the clergy, your neighbour, the teachers, so we all stand in locus parentis for the children.
“We cannot sit-back and do nothing and expect this country to grow or develop if you do not start from the foundation,” he said.
He further underscored the strong link between law and morality, describing moral re-orientation as fundamental to addressing social vices in schools and campuses. The Chief of Staff highlighted that the government has introduced policies and reforms targeted at youths and encouraged them to take advantage of the windows of opportunity created.
Drawing from his personal experience of engaging students directly through school visits, Gbajabiamila said such interactions have produced positive feedback, urging the committee to think innovatively and adapt to changing realities in order to achieve measurable impact.
He assured members of the Federal Government’s readiness to collaborate with the committee, adding that efforts would be made to mobilise support from corporate organisations through Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives and to explore possible budgetary provisions to sustain the campaign.
As a demonstration of personal commitment, he announced a ₦50 million seed donation to support the committee’s work, to be released in two tranches beginning with ₦25 million. He also assured members that his office would remain open for sustained engagement and strategic partnership.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Professor Jerry Ugokwe, expressed appreciation for the audience and for the vision behind the establishment of the committee, describing youth moral wellbeing as a national priority requiring sustained institutional attention.
He said the initiative reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to confronting social vices among Nigerian students through a structured presidential intervention. According to him, the committee’s mandate includes identifying and addressing social vices in schools, promoting discipline and responsible leadership, and collaborating with institutional authorities and security agencies to combat cultism, drug abuse, examination malpractice, cybercrime and related offences.
Professor Ugokwe added that the committee is also responsible for organising sensitisation campaigns and recommending policies aimed at strengthening student welfare, campus security and academic excellence.
He disclosed that since its inauguration, the committee has moved from policy formulation to action, successfully holding major engagements in Edo and Kwara States as part of its nationwide drive. He appealed for stronger institutional ownership, including approval and logistical support for a proposed grand national launch of the campaign at the State House Conference Hall.
The chairman assured the Presidency of the committee’s commitment to transparency, measurable outcomes and sustained stakeholder engagement.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, Sunday Asefon, who led members of the committee to the State House, underscored the urgency of the intervention. He cited a tragic case of a university student whose death was linked to drug intoxication as a stark reminder of the escalating challenge.
Asefon explained that the committee was deliberately structured as a multi-stakeholder platform bringing together education authorities, religious leaders and other critical actors to drive holistic value reorientation among students.
He 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, describing it as a useful starting point despite limited resources.
According to him, the committee has already conducted programmes in Edo and Kwara States and is planning a larger national engagement in Abuja, aligning closely with the administration’s broader youth development and nation-building agenda.
With the Presidency’s renewed backing and fresh financial support, the campaign against social vices in schools and tertiary institutions is set to gather momentum as stakeholders intensify efforts to safeguard the moral and academic future of Nigerian students.
