…Says fight against drug and substance abuse requires sustained, coordinated and evidence-informed action
…Presents N500,000 cash prize to NADAC winner
…Congratulates Pharm. Tony Anderson on emergence as National Publicity Secretary
The Akwa Ibom State Branch of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has reaffirmed its commitment to combating drug and substance abuse among young people in the state, particularly students in secondary schools.
The State Chairman of the Association, Pharm. Donatus Adigom, stated this on Wednesday, 12 August 2026 in Uyo while presenting the branch’s two-year scorecard at a press conference.
Adigom said the branch had recorded significant achievements in its campaign against drug and substance abuse, noting that the fight requires sustained, coordinated and evidence-informed action involving all stakeholders.
According to him, recognising the need to address the demand side of substance use disorder, particularly among young people, the ACPN Akwa Ibom State Branch established its flagship anti-drug abuse programme in 2024 under the leadership of the then State Chairman, Pharm. Tony Anderson.
He explained that the ACPN Anti-Drug Abuse School Competition (ADASC) was designed to use schools as platforms for education, advocacy, peer engagement and sustained community action.
He said, “In the maiden edition of the competition in 2024, Master Michael Akpan of Monef High School, Uyo, emerged as the overall winner. The Association sponsored him to represent Akwa Ibom State at the national competition in Ibadan, Oyo State.
“In 2025, Miss Justinah Emmah John emerged as the winner of the competition and represented the South-South geopolitical zone at the national competition in Awka, Anambra State.”
Speaking on the 2026 edition, Adigom disclosed that the Association visited 52 secondary schools across the state, with 25 of the schools participating in the competition.
He said the competition culminated in a grand finale held on June 17, 2026, at Ibom Hall, Uyo, where Master KiniAbasi Ubong David of Divine Seeds High School, Eket, emerged as the overall winner among five finalists.
According to him, the student’s achievement went beyond the state level, as he subsequently represented Akwa Ibom at the National Anti-Drug Abuse Competition (NADAC), held on July 28, 2026, at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja.
“Master KiniAbasi Ubong David went on to defeat over 90 participating schools and emerged as the national winner,” Adigom stated.
He added that the achievement also contributed to the recognition of the ACPN Akwa Ibom State Branch at the national level, noting that the branch won the 2026 State Dynamics at the Association’s National Conference and emerged as the overall best-performing state branch nationwide.
“We are deeply proud of this achievement and grateful to every individual and institution that contributed to it,” he said.
Also speaking, the National Publicity Secretary of ACPN and immediate past Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Branch, Pharm. Tony Anderson, described Master KiniAbasi David’s victory as an achievement that transcended the student, his school and the Association.
“This is a victory for Akwa Ibom State. It is a victory for our young people. And, most importantly, it is a victory for the fight against drug abuse,” Anderson said.
He maintained that drug abuse remains one of the most persistent and dangerous public health challenges confronting the world, stressing that the illicit drug market thrives where there are gaps in regulation, enforcement, public awareness and community intervention.
In the same vein, the Chairman, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Nutrition and Food Security, Hon. Moses Essien, in his message of goodwill, congratulated ACPN for its exploits in the last few years, and reaffirmed State government’s commitment to curbing substance abuse. He also called on all stakeholders to join the advocacy in ensuring that young persons especially school students are protected from drug abuse.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Nsibiet John, said the fight against drug and substance abuse requires the collective efforts of all stakeholders.
He assured the ACPN of the NUJ’s support in efforts aimed at stemming the tide of drug and substance abuse among young people in the state.
John subsequently presented a cash prize of N500,000 to Master KiniAbasi Ubong David in recognition of his victory at the national anti-drug abuse competition.
He also congratulated Pharm. Tony Anderson on his emergence as the National Publicity Secretary of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, wishing him success in his new responsibility.
