Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to tackling substance abuse and related social vices through sustained investment in education, effective law enforcement, professional counselling and broad stakeholder collaboration.
The governor stated this through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umar F. Ibrahim, who represented him at the opening ceremony of the 10th Annual International Conference of the Association of Professional Counsellors in Nigeria (APROCON), held at Bayero University, Kano.
The five-day international conference, held from August 3 to 7, 2026, brought together professional counsellors, academics, researchers, policymakers, healthcare professionals, security experts and development partners from Nigeria and beyond.
The conference was themed, “Innovative Interventions for Substance Use Reduction.”
Speaking on behalf of the governor, the SSG commended APROCON for choosing Kano as the host of its 10th annual international conference, describing the decision as a vote of confidence in the state’s commitment to educational advancement and human development.
He said the Kano State Government considers substance abuse one of the major threats to the future of young people, social stability and economic development.
According to him, the administration has adopted proactive measures to address the menace through interventions in education, youth development, counselling, and law enforcement.
“The Government of Kano State is determined to rid our society of substance abuse and all associated social vices. We believe that investment in education, youth development and professional counselling remains one of the most effective and sustainable ways of addressing this challenge,” he said.
The SSG disclosed that the state government had recently inaugurated a high-powered committee headed by a renowned legal luminary to strengthen enforcement against the trafficking and abuse of illicit substances across Kano.
He noted that Kano’s strategic position as a major commercial and educational centre attracts people from across Nigeria and neighbouring countries, making it necessary for the government to ensure a safe and secure environment for residents and visitors.
“Our Kano First Agenda places high priority on protecting our communities. Substance abuse has become a major driver of criminal activities, and we are determined to decisively confront the menace through coordinated action involving government institutions, security agencies, educational institutions, professional bodies and community leaders,” the governor said through the SSG.
Highlighting recent successes in the fight against illicit drugs, Umar revealed that security agencies confiscated and destroyed illicit substances worth hundreds of millions of naira in the previous month.
He expressed concern over the huge financial value attached to some of the seized substances, saying some of the exhibits destroyed included tablets reportedly sold for as much as N70,000 each. In contrast, small quantities of hybrid Indian hemp were said to command prices running into millions of naira on the illicit market.
He said the figures underscored the scale of the illegal drug economy and the need for sustained collaboration among governments, professional counsellors, educational institutions, parents, religious leaders and development partners.
The governor also reiterated his administration’s investment in the education sector, describing education as a critical long-term strategy for reducing youth restiveness, preventing criminality and promoting sustainable socio-economic development.
At the event, APROCON honoured Governor Yusuf with two awards in recognition of his administration’s contributions to educational development and human capital advancement.
Receiving the awards on the governor’s behalf, the SSG dedicated the honours to teachers, educational administrators, school managers, the Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, development partners and the people of Kano State for their support towards transforming the education sector.
Umar also congratulated APROCON’s National President, Professor Osorochi Patricia Obi, for the successful hosting of the conference and commended the association for its contributions to the advancement of professional counselling in Nigeria.
He conveyed Governor Yusuf’s condolences to the APROCON family over the death of the association’s Kano/Jigawa Chairman, Professor Ahmad Muhammad Garba.
The SSG prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul and comfort for his family, colleagues and associates.
He also responded positively to APROCON’s request for a parcel of land for the construction of a permanent Kano/Jigawa State Secretariat, describing the proposal as genuine, timely and deserving of priority consideration by the state government.
The conference featured keynote presentations, technical sessions, panel discussions and research papers by scholars and experts from Nigeria and other countries.
Among the speakers were Professor Daniel Ndhlovu of the University of Zambia; Maimuna Mohammed El-Bolly of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano Strategic Command; Dr. Goshwe Martina of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi; Professor Abubakar Sadiq Haruna of Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, Kano; Professor Sulaiman Airat Folashade of the Islamic University in Uganda; Professor M.M. Baba of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; and Rev. Fr. Dr. Joyzy Pius Egunjobi of Lux Terra Leadership Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya.
The event attracted academics, professional counsellors, government officials and delegates from within and outside Nigeria, highlighting the growing role of counselling in addressing contemporary social and developmental challenges.
Governor Yusuf reaffirmed the state government’s readiness to continue partnering with professional bodies, educational institutions and development organizations to promote quality education, mental health, youth empowerment and sustainable strategies for reducing substance abuse.
