Earlier, the NANS JCC Chairman, Mr Victor Asuquo, explained that the engagement was designed to consolidate institutional collaboration ahead of …
By TheInvestigator
The University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) has thrown its full institutional weight behind a major anti-drug abuse campaign led by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), signalling a coordinated push to confront the growing threat of substance abuse among students in Cross River State.
The commitment was formalised during a high-level strategic engagement on April 2, 2026, between the university’s management and leaders of the NANS Joint Campus Council (JCC), Cross River State Axis, marking a decisive step toward strengthening prevention and response efforts within tertiary institutions.
Vice Chancellor, Prof Francisca Bassey, reaffirmed the university’s zero-tolerance stance on drug abuse and underscored her administration’s resolve to safeguard the welfare, safety, and academic future of students across all campuses. She described the proposed initiative as both urgent and necessary, stressing that proactive intervention is critical to curbing the social and health risks associated with substance misuse.
Prof Bassey further highlighted the ongoing upgrades at the institution’s Medical Centre as part of broader efforts to strengthen student health services, while also pledging concrete logistical support, including transportation and operational assistance, to ensure the smooth rollout and sustained implementation of the campaign.
Earlier, the NANS JCC Chairman, Mr Victor Asuquo, explained that the engagement was designed to consolidate institutional collaboration ahead of the official launch of the “Drug-Free Campus Movement,” a student-driven advocacy platform aimed at prevention, awareness, and early intervention.
He announced that the campaign would commence on April 10, 2026, with a public street rally from Mary Slessor Roundabout to Millennium Park, an event expected to mobilise students, youth groups, and community stakeholders in a unified demonstration against drug abuse.
As part of its operational strategy, the initiative will appoint 16 student ambassadors, one from each campus, to lead peer education, promote responsible behaviour, and serve as referral links connecting vulnerable students to counselling and support services.
Mr Asuquo also disclosed that NANS is pursuing strategic partnerships with the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Calabar to facilitate access to affordable rehabilitation services for affected students. Additional collaborations are being explored with key regulatory and public safety institutions, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Federal Ministry of Health, and the National Orientation Agency (NOA).
He emphasised that UNICROSS’s large student population and multi-campus structure position the institution as a strategic hub for driving sustained awareness, early detection, and coordinated response efforts capable of delivering measurable impact in the fight against drug abuse among young people.