By Rabi’u Sunusi
Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to combating 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), Alhaji 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 held under the theme, “Innovative Interventions for Substance Use Reduction.”
Speaking on behalf of the Governor, the SSG appreciated 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 greatest threats to the future of young people, social stability and economic development.
“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 the state.
He noted that Kano’s strategic position as a commercial and educational centre attracts people from different parts of Nigeria and neighbouring countries, making it imperative for the government to ensure a safe and secure environment for residents and visitors.
The Governor, through the SSG, said the administration’s Kano First Agenda places high priority on protecting communities from the dangers associated with substance abuse.
“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,” he stated.
Highlighting recent achievements, Alhaji Umar F. Ibrahim revealed that security agencies last month confiscated and destroyed illicit substances worth hundreds of millions of naira.
He expressed concern over the enormous financial value attached to some of the seized drugs, noting that some tablets were reportedly sold for as much as N70,000 each, while small quantities of hybrid Indian hemp reportedly fetched millions of naira on the illicit market.
According to him, the figures demonstrate 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 significant investment in education, describing it as the most effective long-term strategy for reducing youth restiveness, preventing criminality and promoting sustainable socio-economic development.
During the ceremony, APROCON honoured Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf with two prestigious 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 expressed gratitude to APROCON and said the Governor had 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 education.
Alhaji Umar F. Ibrahim also congratulated APROCON National President, Professor Osorochi Patricia Obi, for the successful hosting of the conference and commended the association for its contributions to advancing professional counselling in Nigeria.
The SSG conveyed Governor Yusuf’s condolences to the APROCON family over the death of the association’s Kano/Jigawa Chairman, Professor Ahmad Muhammad Garba, praying Almighty Allah to forgive his shortcomings, grant him Aljannatul Firdaus and comfort his family, colleagues and associates.
In another development, the SSG responded positively to APROCON’s request for a parcel of land for the construction of a permanent Kano/Jigawa State Secretariat.
He described the proposal as genuine and timely, promising that it would receive priority consideration by the state government.
The conference featured keynote presentations, technical sessions, panel discussions and research papers by scholars and experts from Nigeria, Zambia, Uganda and Kenya.
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 dignitaries, academics, professional counsellors and delegates from within and outside Nigeria, highlighting the growing importance 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 organisations to promote quality education, mental health, youth empowerment and sustainable strategies for reducing substance abuse.