The Lagos State Government has thrown its weight behind two endurance sports initiatives designed to raise mental health awareness and tackle drug abuse among young people.
The campaigns, led by Olufemi Osinubi and Dare Akinrodoye, received the backing of the Lagos State Sports Commission and the Ministry of Youth and Social Development during a meeting with the organisers on Tuesday.
Osinubi is spearheading the Race Against Drug Abuse campaign, which will see him and a team of runners embark on a long-distance run from Abuja to Lagos.
The planned journey follows his recent run from Ibadan to Lagos, undertaken to draw attention to the dangers of drug abuse.
Osinubi said his advocacy through running began in 2024, adding that he intends to expand the campaign beyond Lagos in partnership with relevant government agencies, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
Meanwhile, Akinrodoye is using endurance sports to promote conversations around mental health, particularly depression and suicide prevention.
In 2024, he swam 11.8 kilometres across the Third Mainland Bridge to raise awareness about mental health challenges.
His latest initiative, tagged *Mind Over Miles*, is scheduled for November 15, 2026, and will take participants through Osun, Ogun and Lagos states in a triathlon challenge.
The event will begin with a 3.8-kilometre swim at Owala Dam in Osogbo, Osun State, followed by a 180-kilometre cycling ride to the Sagamu Interchange in Ogun State. Participants will then complete a 42.2-kilometre run to Johnson Jakande Tinubu Park in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
Akinrodoye said his personal struggles inspired him to champion mental health awareness and encourage others to seek support.
The Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, said the initiatives demonstrated how sports could be used to address pressing social issues beyond competition.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, said the campaigns aligned with the state government’s efforts to tackle substance abuse and improve mental health awareness among young people.
