Nigerian Alcohol PreventionYouth Initiative
The Journey So Far

The Nigerian Alcohol Prevention Youth Initiative (NAPYI) is an opportunity for young people to engage in the global fight against the harmful effects of alcohol consumption.

In the history of Nigerian society and since the birth of the nation, this marks the first time that young people are coming together to work to implement initiatives to reduce alcohol consumption in Nigeria and the harm it causes in Nigerian families.

The organisation began in August 2008, after a conference held in the federal capital territory Abuja, Nigeria, organised by the Centre for Research Information on Substance Abuse (CRISA). Realising the need for a call to action, a number of the youth participants came together to develop plans and organise a minimal research programme on alcohol consumption levels amongst young people between ages 18 – 40 found in our tertiary institutions, and the various effects of this consumption. Little research has been going on at local levels in our communities to determine levels of alcoholic beverage consumption and resulting harms. Approximately 70% of young people in Nigerian tertiary schools consume alcohol. Alcohol is often consumed during social events such as parties, birthdays, weddings, and funerals. There are also more male than female drinkers, but the difference is decreasing as events unfold. In traditional society women drank less. However, contemporary alcohol marketing uses and appeals to women with branded products, in events like road shows and indoor and outdoor concerts promoting alcopops.

NAPYI also found that alcoholic beverages are sold most commonly based on where these industries are situated, i.e. the south west (S.W), south east (S.E), and south south (S.S) regions of Nigeria. Each of these regions possess massive power plants, and these are where large amounts of alcohol are produced. Based on visits to some of these industries, it is clear that they have very well planned market strategies that have been put in place to ensure effective and rapid sales and good distribution networks and outlets. The result is that many institutions situated near these industries have populations of heavy drinkers. The North Central (N.C), North West (N.W), North East (N.E) regions, in contrast, have fewer drinkers, due primarily to their religious beliefs which discourage alcohol intake.

NAPYI has also looked at other socio-economic factors feeding Nigeria’s alcohol problems. The nation’s two breweries are the two leading companies on the Nigerian stock exchange, and the companies’ high rates of profitability and resulting attractiveness to private and public investors permits the industry to thrive on huge amounts of capital with which to market its products.

Based on these findings, which are of course preliminary and would benefit from more serious and critical research, and looking at Nigeria’s six geo-political zones, NAPYI has centered and channeled its activities and energy toward the regions with high concentrations of drinkers. There is great need to develop alcohol training programs on alcohol problems for NAPYI members, as well as training the trainers. All of these should be well designed and strategically packaged for youth in Nigeria and those in other African countries.

Having looked at the critical and harmful effects of alcohol consumption on Nigerian society and the resulting decrease in national stability and productivity in the long term, NAPYI is eager to affiliate and network with the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance and the European Alcohol Policy Youth Network. The initiative is also working closely with Professor Isidore Obot, the coordinator of the Centre for Research Information on Substance Abuse.

Six members, one from each of Nigeria’s geo-political zones, will be appointed to serve as the Executive Board of the organisation. Mr Wilson Onyeanula has been appointed President.

To achieve the aims and objectives of the initiative a strategic framework is being developed. NAPYI looks forward to promoting the implementation of prevention programmes that can reduce the harm caused by alcohol which is gradually undermining the wellbeing of Nigerian society.