News
Olawande Spearheads NYSC – UNODC cooperation to tackle drug abuse among youths
Joel Ajayi
The Honourable Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande has initiated a partnership talk between the United Nation’s office on drug and crime(UNODC) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the effort to surmount the problem of drug abuse among youths.
In a meeting which was held at the NYSC headquarters in maitama, Abuja at the instance of the Minister as a follow up to an earlier discussion between him and the country representative of UNODC, Mr Oliver stolp, Olawande reiterated the need to address the menace of drug abuse and crime which is mostly perpetrated by young people.
The minister who was received by the Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General Yushau Dogara Ahmed expressed optimism that the collaboration will yield fruitful results.
He said, “*I am hopeful that the proposed partnership will explore the prospect of deploying corp members as ready volunteers in the battle to rid Nigerian youth of drugs and substance abuse.*”
In his contribution, the UNODC country representative, Mr Oliver stolp explained that his office has some ongoing projects such as unplugged, Line Up Live Up and Drug Education for school children which are aimed at reducing the prevalence of drug abuse in Nigeria. He therefore called on the NYSC management to accept the request for partnership with the UNODC.
In his remarks, the Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General Ahmed gave the assurance that the NYSC, which has an existing partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), would be willing to explore every partnership option to ensure that the menace of drug abuse is curbed among the youth.
The two organisations agreed to set up a joint team to work out the details of the partnership.
Foreign news
Algeria’s Glorious Revolution: Embassy Marks 72nd Anniversary in Abuja
Joel Ajayi
The Embassy of Algeria in Nigeria has commemorated the 72nd anniversary of the country’s Glorious Revolution of November 1, 1954, with a reception in Abuja, highlighting Algeria’s liberation struggle and strengthening diplomatic relations with Nigeria.
The event, held on November 9, 2026, at Continental Suites Hotel, attracted prominent personalities, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Tajudeen Abbas, members of the Federal Government, senior government officials, heads of diplomatic missions and other friends of Algeria.
Speaking at the reception, Algeria’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Hocine Mezoued, welcomed guests and paid tribute to the country’s freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives during the struggle for independence.
He described the November 1, 1954 revolution as the foundation of modern Algeria, noting that the sacrifices of the nation’s martyrs made it possible for the country to reclaim its sovereignty.
On Algeria’s development agenda, Mezoued said President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s administration had continued to pursue economic reforms, diversification and national development under its New Algeria vision.
He noted that the country was recording progress in non-hydrocarbon exports, while improvements in the business environment had boosted investor confidence and attracted significant foreign investments.
On foreign policy, the ambassador reaffirmed Algeria’s commitment to non-interference, respect for national sovereignty, peaceful conflict resolution and the right of peoples to self-determination.
Addressing security challenges in the Sahel, he stressed that lasting peace could not be achieved through military measures alone, insisting that economic development, inclusive dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes remained essential.
Turning to Nigeria-Algeria relations, Mezoued described the partnership as one founded on shared values and the commitment of both countries’ leaders to advancing African development.
He identified the Trans-Saharan Highway, Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline and Trans-Saharan Fibre Optic Backbone as major strategic projects receiving attention from both countries.
The ambassador also disclosed that Algeria had continued to provide scholarships to Nigerian students to strengthen human capital development and capacity building.
He further announced that Air Algérie expanded its Nigerian operations on October 26, 2026, with the introduction of two weekly flights to Lagos, expressing confidence that the service would boost trade and tourism.
Looking ahead, Mezoued said 2027 would offer fresh opportunities to deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly through the fifth Joint High Bi-National Commission scheduled to hold in Abuja.
He expressed optimism that the meeting would provide an opportunity to assess existing partnerships, identify new areas of cooperation and move Nigeria-Algeria relations towards a more practical and results-driven phase.
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