By Emmanuel Daniji

Two Nigerians are taking their fight against drug abuse and mental health challenges beyond traditional awareness campaigns, using long-distance running, swimming and cycling to reach people across the country.

Their efforts have received the backing of the Lagos State Government, which says sports can be used not only for competition but also to address social problems affecting young people and communities.

The campaigns, led by Olufemi Osinubi and Dare Akinrodoye, received support from the Lagos State Sports Commission and the Ministry of Youth and Social Development during a meeting with the organisers on Tuesday.

While Osinubi is using endurance running to speak against drug abuse, Akinrodoye is turning to physically demanding sporting challenges to draw attention to depression, suicide prevention and other mental health concerns.

The Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, said the initiatives showed how sports could become a powerful tool for social development.

He explained that the government was willing to support positive efforts that use sporting activities to educate the public and address challenges affecting society.

According to Fatodu, the unusual physical demands of the two campaigns could help attract attention to their messages and encourage more people to engage with the issues.

Osinubi is leading the Race Against Drug Abuse campaign and plans to run from Abuja to Lagos as part of efforts to warn Nigerians, particularly young people, about the dangers of substance abuse.

The proposed challenge follows his recent run from Ibadan to Lagos, which was also organised to raise awareness about drug abuse.

Osinubi said his advocacy through running began in 2024. He plans to extend the campaign to more locations and work with relevant government agencies, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

For Akinrodoye, the campaign is personal. He is using his own experiences and endurance sports to encourage conversations about mental health and the challenges faced by people who may be struggling silently.

In 2024, he swam an 11.8-kilometre stretch around the Third Mainland Bridge to draw attention to mental health issues.

His latest initiative, tagged Mind Over Miles, is scheduled for November 15 and will take him across Osun, Ogun and Lagos states through a triathlon.

The challenge will begin with a 3.8-kilometre swim at Owala Dam in Osogbo, Osun State. He will then cycle 180 kilometres from the dam to the Sagamu Interchange in Ogun State before completing the final leg with a 42.2-kilometre run to Johnson Jakande Tinubu Park in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

Through the challenge, Akinrodoye hopes to encourage greater awareness of mental health concerns and help people understand the importance of seeking support.

The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, said the campaigns aligned with the state government’s efforts to tackle drug abuse and improve mental health awareness.

He stressed that young people experiencing mental health difficulties needed to know that their concerns were being taken seriously.

Ogunlende also called for the use of different platforms to strengthen public education and encourage more people to participate in the fight against drug abuse.

The two initiatives show how sporting activities can reach beyond stadiums and medals. By turning demanding physical challenges into public campaigns, the organisers hope to get more Nigerians talking about drug abuse, depression and suicide prevention.

With government support, their efforts could also help take these conversations into more communities, particularly among young people who need reliable information, encouragement and access to support.