The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd), has said Afrobeats can serve as a powerful tool in the fight against drug abuse and human trafficking.
Speaking through the NDLEA Commander in Delta State, Halilu Hamidu, at the maiden Afrobeats Cultural Carnival in Asaba on Saturday, Marwa described the initiative as an innovative platform that combines entertainment, African cultural heritage and public enlightenment to educate young people, discourage substance abuse and promote responsible citizenship.
He said drug abuse remained a major threat to families, schools and communities, stressing that effective responses must go beyond law enforcement to include education, rehabilitation, compassion and cultural engagement.
“Afrobeats is more than music. It is the heartbeat of a generation,” Marwa said.
“When we use that same powerful voice to warn against the dangers of drug abuse and human trafficking, we are not just entertaining; we are educating and protecting.”
He commended the organisers for incorporating discussions on drug abuse, human trafficking, culture and faith into the carnival, describing the programme as a practical intervention to protect vulnerable young people from criminal exploitation.
Marwa urged young Nigerians to reject drugs and other criminal activities, while encouraging those struggling with substance abuse to seek professional help, assuring them that treatment, counselling, rehabilitation and community support were available through evidence-based interventions.
He reaffirmed the NDLEA’s commitment under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign to strengthen partnerships with communities, faith-based organisations and stakeholders in Nigeria’s creative industry to tackle substance abuse. He also commended the Gateway to Better Life Foundation, DAST Foundation USA, Rainbow Star Films and Entertainment USA, and the Davido International Supporters Group for supporting anti-drug campaigns and youth development.
Chairman of the occasion, Archbishop Gimbright Adaigho, described the carnival as a movement that extends beyond entertainment, saying it was designed to promote responsible leadership, creativity, national unity and the preservation of Africa’s cultural heritage.
The General Overseer of Jesus Mission Church urged participants to uphold values that inspire hope, peace and responsibility, adding that music and cultural festivals should become platforms for addressing drug abuse, addiction, trafficking and exploitation while promoting moral values and youth empowerment.
Convener of the carnival, Ambassador Chukwudi Eke, called on governments, parents, religious leaders and community stakeholders to unite against drug abuse before more young people become victims.
Expressing concern over rising substance abuse among schoolchildren, including those in primary schools, Eke urged parents, teachers and community leaders to intervene early to prevent more lives from being destroyed.
He said the carnival’s medical outreach and welfare programmes were funded by him and his wife without government or corporate sponsorship as part of their commitment to community service.
Eke also announced the unveiling of a commemorative book on music star Davido, alongside new musical projects and a feature film aimed at promoting positive African values to global audiences. He thanked traditional rulers, educational institutions, media organisations, volunteers and more than 30 partner organisations for supporting the initiative, expressing confidence that the carnival would continue to advance cultural values, youth empowerment and campaigns against drug abuse through sustained collaboration.
