Presidency backs special committee’s campaign against social vices in schools
…as Gbajabiamila pledges ₦50m seed fund, urges whole-of-society response The Presidency on Thursday threw its weight behind the Special Committee on Campaign Against Social Vices in Secondary and Tertiary Institutions,
...as Gbajabiamila pledges ₦50m seed fund, urges whole-of-society response
The Presidency on Thursday threw its weight behind the Special Committee on Campaign Against Social Vices in Secondary and Tertiary Institutions, describing its mandate as central to safeguarding Nigeria’s future.
Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, gave the assurance when he received members of the committee, led by its Chairman, Professor Jerry Ugokwe, at the State House in Abuja.
Gbajabiamila expressed confidence in the integrity and capacity of the committee, noting that its designation as a “special committee” underscores the gravity of its assignment, which focuses on the moral wellbeing and character 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 nation’s future, 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 targeted at empowering the younger generation. However, he cautioned that failure to properly guide and support youths could undermine the long-term gains of such reforms.
In a statement issued by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye, Gbajabiamila said “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.
The Chief of Staff emphasised that tackling the menace requires a whole-of-society approach involving parents, teachers, religious leaders, communities and relevant institutions.
He observed that the challenge has assumed near-pandemic proportions globally and underscored the strong link between law and morality, describing moral re-orientation as fundamental to addressing social vices in schools and campuses.
Gbajabiamila urged the committee to think innovatively and adapt to changing realities, drawing from his own experience of engaging students directly during school visits, which he said yielded positive feedback.
He assured the committee of the Federal Government’s readiness to collaborate, adding that efforts would be made to mobilise support from corporate organisations through Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, as well as explore possible budgetary provisions.
As a demonstration of personal commitment, the Chief of Staff announced a ₦50 million seed donation to support the committee’s activities, to be released in two tranches, beginning with ₦25 million.
He also assured members that his office would remain open for sustained engagement.
Earlier, Professor Ugokwe thanked the Presidency for the audience and for the vision behind the committee’s establishment, describing the initiative as a structured presidential intervention to confront social vices among Nigerian students.
He said the committee’s mandate includes identifying and addressing 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.
The committee, he added, is also tasked with organising sensitisation campaigns and recommending policies to strengthen student welfare, campus security and academic excellence.
Professor Ugokwe disclosed that since its inauguration, the committee has moved from policy to action, holding major engagements in Edo and Kwara States as part of its nationwide drive.
He appealed for strategic backing and stronger institutional ownership, including approval and logistical support for a proposed grand national launch of the campaign at the State House Conference Hall.
He assured the Presidency of the committee’s commitment to transparency, measurable outcomes and sustained stakeholder engagement.
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Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, Comrade Sunday Asefon, who led members of the committee to the meeting, highlighted the urgency of the intervention, citing a tragic case of a university student whose death was linked to drug intoxication.
Asefon said such incidents underscore the need for a coordinated national response to rising social vices among young people.
He 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 disclosed 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, he noted that the committee has already conducted programmes in Edo and Kwara States and is planning a larger national engagement in Abuja, stressing that its work aligns closely with the administration’s broader youth development and nation-building agenda.
