An NGO, Stella Heart Foundation (SHF), has launched a campaign to protect and restore Kogi youths from substance abuse through a public awareness initiative titled “Rise Up, Stay Free.”
The event, held on Sunday in Lokoja, also coincided with the 60th birthday celebration of the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Lokoja (FUL), Prof. Gbenga Ibileye.
Speaking at the event, SHF Executive Director Mrs. Monisola Ibileye said the foundation was inspired by her husband’s concern for humanity and his commitment to improving lives.
“It is with immense gratitude that I celebrate my beloved husband’s 60th birthday. Sixty years is a testament to God’s faithfulness and grace.
“As a husband, father, and leader, he has been supportive, a guide, mentor, and source of strength.
“That concern for humanity inspired Stella Heart Foundation,” she said.
She explained that the foundation envisions a Kogi State and Nigeria where young people are free from substance abuse, healthy, empowered, and equipped to pursue purposeful lives.
Its mission is to protect young people through evidence-based prevention programs, community mobilization, rehabilitation pathways, and economic empowerment initiatives.
She added that the foundation aims to place vulnerable youths at the center of its interventions and build institutional capacity to make Kogi a model for substance abuse response.
Mrs. Ibileye urged young people to choose healthy lifestyles and avoid substance abuse, encouraging them to embrace the campaign’s message of “Rise Up, Stay Free.”
She also prayed for more years of good health, wisdom, and peace for Prof. Ibileye as he marked his 60th birthday.
Mrs. Abimbola Agbogun, Executive Director of Challenge Parenthood Initiative (CPI), described the foundation’s establishment as timely amid rising drug abuse cases.
Agbogun assured the foundation of CPI’s support and advised youths to remain focused on their education and avoid social vices.
The Secretary to the Kogi State Government, Dr. Folashade Ayoade, represented by Mr. Oluseyi Eleta, Senior Special Assistant on Fraud and Internet Matters, congratulated Ibileye on his milestone.
Ayoade described young people as society’s greatest asset and pledged government support for initiatives aimed at improving youth well-being and development across the state.
She also encouraged the foundation to expand its advocacy to address internet fraud and other emerging challenges facing young people.
In a presentation titled “Substance Abuse and Its Effects,” Dr. Adekunle Adeshina warned that one in five teenagers had experimented with illicit drugs by age 15.
Adeshina stated that overdose remains the third leading cause of death among teenagers, with peer pressure and socio-economic factors being major drivers of substance abuse.
He added that children of substance users are ten times more likely to engage in drug use than those from non-using households.
According to him, substance abuse can permanently alter brain development during adolescence and lead to cardiovascular disease, kidney damage, memory loss, and mental health disorders.
He identified strong family support, religious values, campus counseling services, and peer mentorship as key protective factors against substance abuse.
“Your future is worth it. Your brain is your greatest asset—protect it. One decision can change your entire life,” he told students.
He urged young people struggling with substance issues to seek help from parents, teachers, counselors, and trusted adults.
In his remarks, Prof. Ibileye thanked participants and emphasized the importance of youths making conscious decisions to reject substance abuse and adopt positive values.
He urged young people to stay focused, disciplined, diligent, and committed to their goals, adding that he is determined to elevate the university to greater heights.
