The Presidency has reaffirmed its full support for the Special Committee on Campaign Against Social Vices in Secondary and Tertiary Institutions, describing the initiative as critical to Nigeria’s moral, educational, and developmental future.

The assurance was given by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, during a meeting with members of the committee led by Jerry Ugokwe at the State House, Abuja.

Gbajabiamila stressed that the fight against social vices among young people has become a national imperative, warning that rising incidents of misconduct in schools pose serious risks to long-term nation-building efforts.

He noted that many of the Federal Government’s reforms are deliberately youth-focused and forward-looking, adding that failure to properly guide and support young Nigerians could erode the gains of such initiatives.

According to him, addressing social vices requires a whole-of-society approach that brings together parents, teachers, religious leaders, and communities, as the problem has assumed near-pandemic proportions globally.

The Chief of Staff also underscored the intrinsic link between law and morality, describing moral reorientation as a fundamental pillar of sustainable development. He urged the committee to adopt innovative strategies while remaining responsive to changing social realities.

Gbajabiamila assured the committee of the Presidency’s readiness to collaborate and facilitate partnerships, including engagement with corporate organisations through Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

In a show of tangible support, he announced a ₦50 million seed donation for the committee’s work, with ₦25 million to be released as the first tranche.

Earlier, the Committee Chairman, Prof. Ugokwe, expressed appreciation to the Presidency for establishing the initiative, explaining that its mandate includes combating cultism, drug abuse, examination malpractice, cybercrime, and other social vices prevalent in secondary and tertiary institutions.

Ugokwe disclosed that the committee has already conducted major stakeholder engagements in Edo and Kwara States, and appealed for additional support, including approval for a grand national launch at the State House Conference Hall.

In his remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, Sunday Asefon, highlighted the urgency of the intervention, noting the growing prevalence of social vices among students across the country.

Asefon also revealed that the Federal Ministry of Education made a ₦7 million budgetary provision for the committee in the 2025 fiscal year to support its nationwide programmes and activities.

He added that the committee’s work aligns squarely with the administration’s youth development and nation-building agenda, stressing its importance in promoting discipline, educational integrity, and ethical conduct among Nigeria’s young population.