Douala: ROFI, SUPE launch school campaign against drug abuse.

The campaign, which kicked off on September 25, 2026, at Government Bilingual School Bonamatoumbé in Douala IV Subdivision, organisers said, is targeting more than 500 schools and seeks to reach over 30,000 students during the 2026/2027 academic year.

The initiative, they said, is designed to equip children and young people with knowledge about the harmful effects of psychoactive substances and encourage them to make informed decisions that can help prevent substance use.

About 105 students at the Bonamatoumbé school remained engaged throughout the session, reacting positively to the lesson. 

For ROFI, the campaign represents a shift towards prevention through education, with the organisation drawing on its five years of experience in substance-use prevention.

“We are carrying substance use prevention education into the classrooms. Our mission is to reach out to over 30,000 students this academic year,” Founder and CEO of ROFI, Ndip Ndip Simon, said. 

He went on to say that, ROFI and SUPE share the belief that education can play a central role in preventing addiction.

“Education is the most powerful tool we have to reduce addiction. A few hours of the right education can prevent hundreds of hours of treatment,” Ndip said, adding that the initiative is intended to contribute to a drug-free academic year by strengthening young people's understanding of substance use before problems develop.

The campaign is expected to extend beyond the first school visited in Douala, with ROFI and SUPE aiming to take the prevention message to hundreds of schools and tens of thousands of students across the country.

School authorities welcome initiative

Reacting to the perceived impact of the activity, the Head Teacher of Government Bilingual School Bonamatoumbé, Nji Louis Tegha, welcomed the campaign, describing the outreach as timely in view of drug-related concerns within the community. 

He expressed appreciation to ROFI for coming to educate students about drug use and its dangers.

According to the Head Teacher, although teachers and educational institutions have a responsibility to guide and educate students, partnerships with organisations involved in prevention can reinforce these efforts.

He stressed the importance of continued awareness and education among young people, describing prevention as preferable to dealing with the consequences of substance abuse.

Nji Louis Tegha also expressed willingness to welcome ROFI back to the school for future awareness sessions.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3923 of Monday September 28, 2026