The Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF) has unveiled its WeNaija 2024 Contest – a creative platform for youth advocacy on drug abuse.

This is contained in a statement signed by Fejiro Chinye-Nwoko, managing director/chief executive officer, NSSF, on Saturday in Lagos.

Ms Chinye-Nwoko said that the campaign is an initiative designed to engage Nigerian youths in addressing critical health issues through creative expression.

According to her, the WeNaija campaign, now in its fourth edition, has become a powerful platform for young Nigerians to raise their voices and advocate for better healthcare in their communities.

She said that the 2024 campaign theme: “Voice Your Change,” focused on the rising concern of drug abuse in urban areas, a growing issue that continued to affect many young Nigerians and their communities.

The CEO noted that since its inception in 2021, the campaign had impacted thousands of young Nigerians equipping them with the tools, skills, and platform to advocate for health reforms.

She added that they were able to achieve the reforms through creative mediums such as photography, literature, and video storytelling.

“Over the past three years, we have seen more than 2000 youth participate in health advocacy projects, leading to meaningful conversations and innovative solutions for community health challenges.

“As we launch the fourth edition of WeNaija, we are reminded of the tremendous impact this campaign has had on empowering Nigerian youths to drive positive change.

“This year’s focus on drug abuse is particularly urgent.

“We see the impact of addiction in urban areas daily, and we want to provide a space for young people to share their stories, address the issue, and propose real solutions,” Ms Chinye-Nwoko said.

She emphasised that the WeNaija Contest invites young Nigerians to creatively express their experiences and ideas on tackling drug abuse through video storytelling.

She urged participants to share stories of drug abuse’s causes and impact on their lives or communities while offering innovative and actionable solutions.

She said that the campaign was opened to individuals between the ages of 18 and 35 years.

She said that contesters were expected to submit a short video (1-2 minutes) centred around the theme, ‘Voice Your Change.’

According to her, winners will receive prizes worth N10 million and recognition at the WeNaija YouthFest in November.

The CEO urged interested participants to register via NSSF website and upload their videos on Facebook or Instagram, tag NSSF and use the hashtag #WenaijaVoiceYourChange.

“Our goal is to spark an open and honest conversation about drug abuse and empower the youth to drive solutions.

“Through this contest, we are giving young people the platform to share their experiences and ideas in a way that is not only personal but also impactful for their communities,” Ms Chinye-Nwoko said.

 (NAN)