The Lagos State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has revealed that several of its rehabilitated clients are now excelling in academics, with some gaining admission into prestigious institutions and scoring high in national examinations.
State Deputy Commander, Chinyerem Eziaghighala, shared these developments on Thursday during a capacity-building session organised in partnership with Smart Recovery to mark the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
According to Eziaghighala, most of the clients at the agency’s rehabilitation centre in Gbagada are young adults between the ages of 22 and 25. Many had previously abandoned their studies due to drug abuse, but have since made significant progress.
“We’ve handled over 50 clients, and at least 40 percent are doing very well. One of our earliest clients is now studying at Birmingham University and has received academic awards,” she said.
She also cited the case of two clients who sat for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exam while still in rehabilitation. One scored 296 after dropping out of three universities before seeking help.
“These are individuals who struggled academically while using drugs. Now in recovery, they are thriving without remedial classes or academic coaching,” she added.
The training introduced officers to the SMART Recovery model — Self-Management and Recovery Training — designed to enhance support systems within the NDLEA’s treatment framework.
Chinyere Okoro, Global Master Trainer for Smart Recovery, said the initiative aims to embed structured mutual support frameworks into the agency’s rehabilitation programmes. She emphasised the NDLEA’s reach in schools and communities as a strong foundation for expanding addiction recovery efforts.
Honest Anaba, founder of Smart Nigeria, announced that the programme would begin with a pilot phase in Lagos, followed by a national rollout. He said outstanding officers may be integrated into Smart Nigeria’s facilitator network as part of the expansion strategy.
“The long-term vision is to make SMART Recovery meetings a permanent fixture within the NDLEA’s support and rehabilitation framework,” Anaba stated.
