Queens College Lagos and Ilogbo Junior High School emerged as champions in the 2024 Nigerian Youth Parliament Lagos Central Inter-Secondary School Debate on Drug Abuse.

Hosted by Abdulmumin Edidi, the Lagos Central Senatorial District Representative in the Nigerian Youth Parliament, the event centered on crucial topics including the roles of students in preventing substance abuse, the impact of holiday jobs on drug reduction, and the importance of mental health awareness.

The debate, held at Y-Arena, Ikoyi, saw Afolorunso Oluwatobiloba and Chukwuma-Okoh Naomi of Queens College secure victory in the senior category, while Igboeje Goodwill and Ikechukwu Godwin of Ilogbo Junior High excelled in the junior category.

Prizes like laptops, tablets, and educational resources, sponsored by Lagos Assembly Member Gbolahan Olusegun Yishawu, were awarded to the winners. Runners-up included Sari-Iganmu Senior Secondary School and Kings College Lagos in the senior group, while Iganmu Junior High School and Sanya Junior High School placed in the junior category.

Edidi emphasized the initiative’s success in empowering youth to champion a substance-free society, noting that the debate program, launched in 2022, has impacted over 500 students across 90 schools. Former Lagos First Lady Dame Abimbola Fashola and current First Lady Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu praised the event’s focus on awareness and preventive strategies, urging all stakeholders to join efforts against the drug abuse crisis affecting Nigeria’s future.