The Federal Government has introduced Nigeria’s first-ever National Policy on Drug and Substance Abuse in Schools, a landmark framework designed to tackle the escalating challenge of drug use among students in secondary and tertiary institutions.







The policy was formally presented in Abuja on Monday, December 8, by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who described the development as a major stride toward protecting learners and reinforcing safety structures across the nation’s education system.








Alausa explained that the ministry is adopting an 80-percent implementation and 20-percent policy development model, which mirrors global best practices that demand visible, trackable impact rather than policies that remain on paper.









According to him, this is the first time Nigeria is producing a comprehensive national policy backed by a detailed implementation guide specifically focused on combating drug abuse within learning environments. He stressed that the policy closes several long-standing gaps and strengthens school-based preventive measures. The minister also acknowledged the support of partners such as UNESCO, UNICEF, and other organisations helping to improve education standards.








The new policy framework includes enhanced counselling services, structured behavioural support programmes, and clearly mapped-out intervention routes for students identified as being at risk. Alausa added that while support systems are being expanded, the government will adopt a zero-tolerance stance toward repeated offenders who pose continuous risk to school communities.








To reinforce prevention, the ministry has started updating the secondary school curriculum to integrate drug education, with similar content expected to be extended to primary schools soon. In addition, a dedicated Substance Use Prevention Unit has been established to coordinate national implementation.









Working hand-in-hand with the NDLEA, the unit will spearhead campaigns—including awareness lectures, competitions, and parent-focused engagement programmes. The minister also disclosed plans to introduce mandatory drug-integrity testing for both new and returning students, alongside periodic screening for selected undergraduates.








To support teachers and school administrators, the Federal Ministry of Education announced a new collaboration involving UBEC, TETFund, and the NDLEA Academy in Jos, aimed at training educators and improving school-based systems that promote healthy, drug-free learning environments.





17,914 Students Apply for New Venture Capital Grant



Meanwhile, the government’s recently launched Students Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG) has recorded an impressive 17,914 applications from 402 tertiary institutions nationwide. The National Programme Coordinator, Adebayo Onigbanjo, disclosed the figures during the programme’s official unveiling in Abuja.


Applications came from 346 public and 56 private universities, with more than 1,000 students completing their submissions within the opening window.









Reacting to the overwhelming interest, Minister Alausa said the numbers reflect the “growing hunger for innovation and entrepreneurship” among Nigeria’s youth. He described the S-VCG as a key pillar of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at discovering high-potential student ventures and accelerating creativity on campuses.









The grant provides up to ₦50 million in equity-free seed funding, along with training, business incubation, mentorship, and access to specialised tools. The initiative is run by the Ministry of Education and TETFund, with support from the Bank of Industry, Afara Initiative, AfriLabs, Google, and the Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Centre.










The scheme is open to full-time students from 300 level, as well as master’s and PhD candidates who already operate CAC-registered ventures in STEM or medical-related fields. The first cohort is designed to accommodate 250,000 students, with more than 100,000 currently undergoing training across 1,620 centres.









Alausa also highlighted the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF), which grants interest-free loans of up to ₦10 million to academic and non-academic staff. According to him, nearly 4,000 personnel have benefitted from the scheme so far.