By Idowu Adebomi
The Lagos State Government recently unveiled popular social media influencer, Mandy Kiss, as an ambassador for the Lagos State Sports Commission (LASSADA)’s anti-drug campaign. With a following exceeding 400,000, the state clearly believes her wide reach can effectively sensitize young people against drug abuse.
While the intention to fight drug abuse is commendable, the choice of Mandy Kiss as a messenger fundamentally undermines the very message the government hopes to convey.
Mandy Kiss’s public persona and content are widely characterized by vulgarity, indecency, and self-styled declarations as an “Olosho,” a Yoruba term often translated as “Prostitution Queen.” On numerous occasions, she has openly promoted values at odds with the modesty, discipline, and positive conduct required to combat social vices. Enlisting her as the face of an anti-drug campaign presents a profound contradiction. It is akin to asking a habitual smoker to lead an anti-cigarette crusade.
The primary risk is that young, impressionable people will gravely misinterpret the government’s message. Instead of discouraging drug abuse, this appointment may inadvertently reinforce the idea that notoriety, indecency, and reckless behavior are rewarded with official recognition and patronage. How can vulnerable youths be expected to heed advice from someone whose public stunts often border on the controversial and socially unacceptable?
This is not the first time a Nigerian government institution has drawn sharp criticism for a questionable ambassadorial choice. Many Nigerians recall the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) naming musician Naira Marley, a figure himself linked with controversial lifestyles as an anti-drug ambassador.
Such decisions raise legitimate doubts about whether those in authority are genuinely committed to societal reform or are simply chasing fleeting publicity and online traction. By prioritizing short-term social media engagement over integrity, these campaigns sacrifice long-term credibility.
Ambassadorial deals of this nature must be reserved for individuals with proven integrity and demonstrable positive achievements. Role models should be people whose lives embody the discipline, hard work, and wholesome influence that inspire hope and ambition, not recklessness.
Consider sports icons like Asisat Oshoala, Rasheedat Ajibade, or Victor Osimhen; innovators in science and technology; or academic champions like winners of the Cowbell Mathematics Competition. Their personal narratives offer genuine inspiration.
Instead, Lagos has chosen to glorify a self-acclaimed purveyor of social vice. If this trend continues, we risk sending a dangerous message: that notoriety is a valid ticket to fame and government patronage. Far from reducing drug abuse, such misguided recognition could normalize destructive habits as acceptable pathways to success.
The government must urgently rethink its strategy. Campaigns against drug abuse require credible messengers whose lives reflect the values being promoted. Otherwise, the state risks being seen as “curing madness with madness,” and may find itself soon needing more resources to cope with the societal consequences of a misguided policy.