The Nigerian Online Media Alliance (NOMA) has launched a Media Practicians’ Capacity Building Programme to mark the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, bringing together journalists and media professionals to strengthen responsible reporting on drug abuse issues.
The one-day conference, organized in collaboration with the International Society of Substance Use Prevention Professionals (ISSUP) Nigeria, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Yaba in Lagos, is themed “Responsible Media, Drug-Free Nigeria: The Journalist’s Role in Prevention and Advocacy.” The event will take place on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 10:00 am at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos.
The initiative aims to equip journalists, editors, publishers, bloggers, broadcasters, and digital media practitioners with knowledge and practical tools for accurate, ethical, and responsible reporting on drug abuse, substance use disorders, mental health, rehabilitation, and prevention strategies.
The programme aligns with the United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, observed annually on June 26, to strengthen global action and cooperation toward achieving a world free from drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
Organizers noted that substance abuse remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing public health and social challenges, particularly among young people. They emphasized that the media has a critical responsibility to inform, educate, shape public attitudes, challenge harmful narratives, and amplify evidence-based prevention efforts.
The capacity-building programme will feature presentations by experts in substance use prevention, mental health, public health advocacy, law enforcement, and journalism. Participants will engage in discussions on responsible reporting, fact-based storytelling, stigma reduction, prevention communication, and strategic advocacy supporting national and community-level responses to drug abuse.
NOMA Chairperson Theresa Moses stated that journalists occupy a unique position in influencing public perception and promoting positive behavioral change.
“The media is more than a channel for information; it is a powerful force for education, advocacy, and social transformation. Through responsible reporting and strategic storytelling, journalists can help prevent substance abuse, support recovery efforts, and contribute meaningfully to building safer and healthier communities,” she said.
Moses further noted that as gatekeepers of information and shapers of public discourse, media professionals have a responsibility to ensure reporting on drug-related issues is accurate, balanced, evidence-based, and free from stigma, while highlighting prevention, treatment, and recovery pathways.
The event is expected to attract journalists, media executives, government officials, healthcare professionals, development partners, civil society organizations, youth advocates, researchers, mass communication students, and other stakeholders committed to advancing a drug-free Nigeria.