Post-event impact report
SADA Football Cup 2025
Sensitization Against Drug Abuse, Crime and HIV/AIDS. Three days in Abuja that combined sport, sensitization, rehabilitation and youth empowerment.
- Organiser
- Young Entrepreneurs Summit Africa Initiative (YESA), FCT
- Dates
- 17–19 October 2025
- Duration
- 3 days
- Theme
- Beyond the Game: Leveraging Sports to Tackle Drug Abuse, Crime and HIV/AIDS Among Nigerian Youth
SADA CUP 2025 · FCTFT · 3 DAYS
20Community teams
300Players
3,000+Spectators reached
800Youths tested for HIV and counselled
20,000Condoms and lubricants distributed
73New ADAAM ambassadors
5Youths set up as POS merchants
0Incidents of violence
3M+Media impressions
Media: TVC News, Arise TV, AIT, EFCC TV, Aljazirah News, Newswire, News Century, The Nation, Daily Legend and NAN.
Why football
The SADA Football Tournament 2025 used the unifying power of football to tackle three pressing issues among young people: drug abuse, crime and HIV/AIDS. Youth, public agencies and private partners took part, and the event created awareness, promoted health and encouraged behavioural change across the FCT and beyond.
Objectives
- Sensitize young people on the dangers of drug abuse, crime and HIV/AIDS.
- Promote voluntary HIV testing, counselling and safer sexual practices.
- Give young people a positive platform for engagement through football.
- Identify, rehabilitate and mentor drug users and vulnerable youths through ADAAM.
- Empower selected beneficiaries with entrepreneurship and skills.
- Strengthen multi-sector collaboration for youth development and public health.
Highlights
What happened on and off the pitch
Every match opened with the SADA Pledge, a commitment to a drug-free, crime-free and HIV-free life. All players and coaches were drug-tested before kick-off.
Football & unity
20 youth teams from communities across the FCT competed, with a focus on discipline, teamwork and community spirit.
Health & testing
With FACA, AHF and IHVN, 800 young people accessed free HIV testing and counselling.
Education
Experts from NDLEA, UNODC and the Association of Resident Doctors (UATH) led sessions on drug prevention, mental health and safe behaviour.
Prizes
Cash prizes for the top three teams. Several winners plan to reinvest in sports equipment, coaching and school outreach.
Flagship programme
ADAAM: Anti-Drug Abuse Ambassadors Mentorship
ADAAM rehabilitates, mentors and empowers young people who have been exposed to or affected by drug use and risky behaviour. 73 new ambassadors joined at SADA 2025 and are now running local sensitization drives, projected to reach 15,000 young people within 12 months.
Rehabilitation
Counselling and referrals into structured rehabilitation pathways.
Peer leadership
Life-skills training so ambassadors can lead as peer educators and role models.
Enterprise
Links to vocational training. Five were set up as POS merchants with PocketMoni by Etranzact.
Outreach
Ambassadors run sensitization drives in schools, churches and youth centres.
Impact
Beyond the final whistle
Health
More voluntary HIV testing and preventive behaviour, and less misinformation about transmission. The 800 young people tested are being linked to community health centres.
Economic
Business support for five rehabilitated young people reduced their risk of unemployment and showed others that reintegration is possible.
Social
Stronger community cohesion, trust in youth programmes and shared responsibility for drug prevention.
Education
More awareness in schools through ADAAM ambassadors' outreach.
Policy
Closer collaboration between YESA, UNODC, NDLEA, NACA, FACA and private partners, reinforcing national anti-drug strategy.
Safety
Over 3,000 attendees and 300 players with zero incidents, thanks to trained marshals, community police, clear entry protocols and an on-site medical unit.
Challenges and lessons
SADA 2025 was 80% self-financed by YESA's leadership team and volunteers. Many sponsors cited short notice and end-of-year budget closures, which limited HIV testing capacity, the number of teams, school outreach and paid media.
The lessons are clear: engage sponsors and partners 3–4 months ahead, give publicity and mobilisation more time, offer a structured sponsorship framework, and establish a SADA Support Fund for continuity beyond single events.
2026 roadmap
SADA goes national
- SADA Cup, Anambra State. 5,000 young people reached, 700 HIV tests and 100 new ADAAM ambassadors targeted.
- Guinness World Record pledge, Abuja. 5,000 participants pledging together.
- SADA Cup, Kwara State. 100 ambassadors trained and free medical outreach for 1,000 participants.
- SADA National Championship, Abuja. Champion teams from every state, with a youth leadership summit.
Event gallery
Three days in pictures
We sincerely thank our government partners, health officials and volunteers, sponsors, teams and coaches, media partners and the Abuja community.
Help us take SADA to four more states
Partner, sponsor or volunteer for the 2026 editions.