Traditional boxing sport to lead grassroots campaign ahead of UN International Day Against Drug Abuse
KANO, Nigeria –In a strategic move to combat drug abuse among young people, the Kano State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has partnered with Mazaje Traditional Sport Promotion Limited,ahead of this year’s United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The initiative is aimed at using the popularity and cultural influence of Dambe, a traditional combat sport, to sensitize and mobilize communities, especially youths, on the dangers of substance abuse.
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During a courtesy visit by the Mazaje team, led by Sarkin Damben Nigeria, Bashir Muhammad Danliti, the NDLEA commended the group’s commitment to drug prevention advocacy.
Representing the Kano Strategic Commander CN AI Ahmad, ACN Maimuna Garba, Head of the Drug Demand Reduction Unit, described the collaboration as a timely and innovative intervention.
“Sports, especially traditional sports like Dambe, are powerful tools for social change. We see this partnership as a way to deliver life-saving messages in a language our youth understand and respect,” she stated.
The NDLEA also recognized the efforts of DSN Jamilu Uba Adamu, Officer in Charge of Sports, for his leadership in designing sport-based outreach programs that promote discipline, healthy living, and drug-free lifestyles.
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As part of the campaign, the NDLEA and Mazaje Traditional Sport Promotion Ltd will organize a series of community awareness events, exhibitions, and educational sessions that highlight the risks of drug abuse and the importance of seeking help.
The program is expected to culminate around the UNODC International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, marked globally on June 26, with a high-impact community event featuring traditional sports demonstrations, drug education booths, and testimonials from recovered addicts.
The NDLEA is urging civil society groups, religious and traditional leaders, educators, and influencers to join the campaign and amplify the message of a drug-free Nigeria.
“This is a collective responsibility. If we want to secure the future of our youth and communities, we must act now—together,” the agency emphasized.