In a proactive effort to curb drug abuse and foster community resilience, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Kano Strategic Command has announced a strategic partnership with Mazaje Traditional Sport Promotion Limited (Kungiyar Dambe), ahead of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
During a recent courtesy visit by the Mazaje Traditional Sport Promotion team, led by Bashir Muhammad Danliti, popularly known as Sarkin Damben Nigeria, both parties pledged to collaborate in leveraging traditional sports—particularly Dambe—as a platform to promote a drug-free lifestyle among Nigerian youth.
Representing the NDLEA Strategic Commander, CN AI Ahmad, the Head of the Drug Demand Reduction Unit, ACN Maimuna Garba, expressed appreciation for Mazaje’s commitment to the fight against substance abuse. She highlighted the importance of cultural and community-based approaches in drug demand reduction efforts.
“Traditional sports like Dambe resonate deeply with our youth and communities,” ACN Garba noted. “By channeling this influence, we can spread powerful messages of discipline, self-respect, and healthy living.”
The Strategic Commander also lauded the contributions of the Officer in Charge of Sports, DSN Jamilu Uba Adamu, whose innovative use of sports as an advocacy tool continues to drive meaningful outreach in the region.
Planned activities under the partnership include educational events, awareness campaigns, and community engagement efforts designed to inform the public about the dangers of drug abuse and encourage individuals to seek help when needed.
As Nigeria prepares to observe the UNODC International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, NDLEA Kano Strategic Command is calling on all stakeholders—government agencies, traditional institutions, civil society, and youth groups—to support this initiative and join hands in building a drug-free society.
Together, through unity and culturally rooted solutions, NDLEA and Mazaje Traditional Sport Promotion Limited aim to create lasting change and safeguard the future of Nigeria’s youth
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