NAWOJ, NDLEA Partner To Tackle Drug Abuse Through Stigma-Free Journalism
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), FCT Chapter, is stepping up efforts to combat the alarming rise in drug abuse among women and young girls in Abuja by partnering with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
During a courtesy visit to the NDLEA headquarters, NAWOJ FCT Chairperson, Comrade Bassey Ita-Ikpang, stressed the need for sensitive and stigma-free reporting of drug-related issues.
She unveiled plans for a one-day intensive training for 100 female journalists in the FCT to promote compassionate storytelling and shift public perception towards rehabilitation and support.
“We must stop reinforcing fear and shame. As journalists, we have a duty to inform and uplift, not condemn,” Ita-Ikpang said.
NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, who represented Chairman Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd), welcomed the initiative.
He noted that over 14 million Nigerians currently abuse drugs—nearly triple the global average—and emphasised the media’s critical role in the ongoing War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.
“This is a war we cannot fight alone. We need the media on our side,” Babafemi stated, pledging the agency’s full support and commitment to engaging local and international partners to back the project.
The partnership marks a bold step towards using media as a tool for healing rather than harm, focusing on empathy, prevention, and reintegration.
