The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has urged the Lagos State Kick Against Drug Abuse Initiative, LASKADA, to immediately revoke the ambassadorial appointment recently given to social media personality Ayomiposi Oluwadahunsi, widely known as Mandy Kiss.
In a strongly worded statement issued late Friday by Comrade Adejuwon Olatunji Emmanuel, Assistant Secretary General of NANS Headquarters, the student body described the appointment as highly inappropriate and counterproductive to the purpose of the campaign.
NANS expressed deep concern that the choice of Mandy Kiss contradicts the values of discipline, dignity, and responsibility that an initiative like LASKADA is expected to promote. The group highlighted that days before the appointment, Mandy Kiss had gone viral for making controversial public remarks that sparked outrage nationwide, stressing that such conduct undermines the credibility of any campaign against substance abuse.
According to NANS, the credibility of the messenger is as crucial as the message, and in this case, the selection fails to meet that standard. The body further questioned the judgment of Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Hon. Mobolaji Ogunlende, for approving the appointment, insisting that influence alone should never be the yardstick for such a sensitive role.
The students argued that Nigeria has numerous credible youths, graduates, professionals, and social media figures with clean reputations who would have been more suitable candidates. NANS maintained that the decision sends a damaging message at a time when government policies should emphasize values, role models, and youth development.
They warned that endorsing controversial figures not only erodes public trust but also risks glamorizing negative behavior among young people seeking recognition. The association demanded that the Lagos State Government immediately withdraw Mandy Kiss’s appointment, while also calling on the commissioner to apologize to students, parents, and stakeholders for what they described as a breach of trust.
NANS recommended that future appointments should follow a transparent selection process that prioritizes education, credibility, and proven integrity. The students advised that credible student leaders, reformed drug abuse survivors, respected professionals, and responsible influencers should be engaged as ambassadors to restore public confidence in the campaign.
Reaffirming its commitment to supporting genuine efforts to curb drug abuse, NANS insisted that it will not stand by while such initiatives are weakened by poor judgment and misplaced priorities.
The association concluded that the health and unity of Nigerian youth must never be compromised, urging the state government to correct the error without delay.
