By Ebedi Deborah
On 5th July 2025, the National Association of University Students (NAUS), Edo State Campus Monitoring Committee, through the office of the Director of Health and Safety, hosted VASA Edo 2025—Voices Against Substance Abuse in Edo State—a mental health and anti-substance abuse awareness programme themed, “Empowering Students for a Drug-Free Future.” The event, held at the 500LT Hall, Basic Medical Sciences Complex, University of Benin, brought together student leaders, advocates, professionals, and guests from across Nigeria to address the growing challenge of drug abuse among youth and university students. FlologPharma, a digital pharmacy care service, was a key sponsor and partner of the event, while the Association of Campus Journalists, UNIBEN (ACJ UNIBEN), served as the official media partner.
Although originally scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m., the programme officially commenced at 11:40 a.m. with an opening prayer led by a volunteer, followed by the national anthem. The host and convener of the event, Comr. Isibor Blessing, Director of Health and Safety, NAUS Edo CMC, gave a heartfelt opening address. She expressed gratitude to guest speakers, student representatives, sponsors, and attendees before highlighting the urgency of the work at hand. Speaking on the state of substance abuse in Edo State, she stated: “VASA Edo 2025 is born out of frustration and concern for youths… a name, a face, a future is being dimmed at the expense of drug abuse.” She affirmed the purpose of the gathering and called for a supportive, healing environment free from judgement and shame.
The moderator, Comr. Isaac Idahor, then recognised dignitaries in attendance, including the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Edo State, Dr Cyril Adams Oshiomole, represented by Dr. (Mrs) Ogbeide Isioma; executive members of the UNIBEN Students’ Union Government; the President and Vice President of Ambrose Alli University (AAU); faculty governors; NAUS leadership; and other invited guests.
The first speaker, Comr. Atarhe Nelly, delivered a compelling session on Mental Health Awareness: A Call to Care and Act. She emphasised that mental and physical health are inseparable, stating, “Physical health and mental health coexist.” She addressed common misconceptions about mental illness in Nigeria, challenging the stigma often rooted in spiritual interpretations. She clarified that mental health struggles include conditions like anxiety, depression, and stress, which are often compounded by substance abuse. Comr. Nelly also distinguished between substance abuse (the misuse of illegal substances) and drug abuse (the misuse of prescribed medication), urging students to be mindful of both.
The second speaker, Mrs Ogbeide Isioma, representing the Commissioner for Health, focused on individual responsibility in combating substance misuse. Her message, themed “Drug abuse is closer to you than you can imagine,” highlighted how addiction affects everyone, either directly or indirectly. She listed commonly abused substances such as cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, and heroin, and discussed their various forms, including tablets, liquids, gases, and injectables.
Dr. Raphael Odoh, COO, Design and Development at FlologPharma, gave a presentation about the company’s mission and services. He introduced FlologPharma as a health-tech platform bridging access between patients and pharmacists. He described the innovation as a telepharmacy solution offering remote consultations and speedy delivery of prescription and OTC medication to users across the country.
The final speaker, Comr. Nmoye Israel, popularly known as Cyano, CEO of Gifted Hands Tutorial and former UNIBEN SUG President, offered an impassioned session on the root causes of substance abuse among students, citing peer pressure and academic stress as major triggers. Using real-life anecdotes and personal reflection, he said, “One of the major causes of all forms of disease is alcohol and drugs.” He called for systemic solutions such as incorporating mental health education into university curricula, promoting skill acquisition programmes, reorienting public perception, and platforming recovery stories from former addicts as a beacon of hope.
Towards the end of the programme, awards of recognition were presented to Comr. Nwoye Israel and Comr. Atarhe Nelly for their invaluable contributions. Furthermore, an award of Innovation in Pharmaceutical Technology was also presented by NAUS Edo CMC to Dr. Andrew Akhabue, Founder and CEO, FlologPharma. “In recognition of your outstanding contribution to digital pharmaceutical innovation and your commitment to improving healthcare access for students and underserved communities,” the NAUS Edo CMC Chairman, Comr. Praise Ogana said, as he presented the award to FlologPharma. Comr. Praise then gave the closing remarks, encouraging all attendees to take the message back to their various faculties, departments, hostels, and homes. A heartfelt vote of thanks was delivered by Comr. Isibor Blessing, who expressed deep appreciation for the support received from participants, volunteers, and partners. The event officially ended at 3:00 p.m.
In a follow-up interview with ACJ UNIBEN, the project manager for VASA Edo 2025, Rt. Hon. Collins Victory Odabi, reflected on the challenges faced while planning the event. When asked about setbacks, he responded, “Yes, a lot. Limited finance, last-minute guest confirmations, stage logistics, the weather — all of it tested us. But we adapted, improvised, and gave it our best shot. God made it possible to scale through.” When asked what surprised him most, he replied, “Upon the very short notice and late publicity, we had people travel to Edo State from different parts of Nigeria for the event. That alone showed us that many believed in what we had built. We expected roughly 150 to 200 attendees, and from my count, we had just about that.”
Rt. Hon. Collins also shared his future vision for the movement. “I’m currently in talks with Comr. Isabor Blessing to upgrade VASA Edo to VASA Nigeria. We have already built the prototype with VASA Edo. All that’s left is branding it for scale. VASA Nigeria, Voices Against Substance Abuse in Nigeria, could grow to become a national mandate — a youth-powered movement, a force that speaks not only to Edo, but to every campus, street, student, youth, and individual battling substance abuse silently in Nigeria. We hope to see it become a reality, soon,” he said.
When asked about the most emotional moment of the entire experience, Comr. Isibor Blessing shared: “The night before VASA Edo 2025, both my project manager and I fell sick. Still, he stayed at the venue till almost 9:00 p.m., setting up and making sure everything was in place. That level of commitment reminded me why this event mattered so deeply. The volunteers, too, gave their all, working through tiredness and rain without complaint. Watching them carry out every task with grace and grit honestly moved me. Their belief in what we were building kept me grounded. After the event, the messages started rolling in, like, ‘Thank you for organising such an impactful meeting,’ Reading those words felt surreal. It was confirmation that VASA Edo didn’t just happen, it healed, it stirred something in people. I felt proud, emotional, and overwhelmingly grateful. For me, that was the moment I knew this wasn’t just a one-time event. It was a calling.”
She further reflected on the programme’s wider impact: “VASA Edo didn’t just raise awareness, it made the topic real. It took conversations that often stayed on posters and turned them into something people couldn’t ignore. It sparked quiet reflection and follow-up messages that showed students were thinking differently. That shift alone is progress — from silence to consciousness.”
Several attendees shared similar sentiments, with one noting, “Thank you for being a blessing to the students’ community.” Another remarked, “I genuinely learned so much from each session… You’ve given a voice to something most people ignore. I haven’t seen a programme like that in a long time. More grace, more strength, and more wins ahead for you. Thank you, my leader.”