Nigeria Controversial Influencer Mandy Kiss Appointed Lagos Anti-Drug Ambassador

The Digest:

Social media personality Ayomiposi Oluwadahunsi, widely known as "Mandy Kiss," has been appointed a brand ambassador for the Lagos State Kick Against Drug and Substance Abuse (LASKADA).

Key Points:

• Social media influencer Mandy Kiss has been appointed a brand ambassador for the Lagos State anti-drug campaign (LASKADA).
• The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende.
• The commissioner described drug abuse as a "pandemic" affecting Lagos communities.
• He defended the choice, citing her large social media following of over 400,000 as key to reaching wider audiences.
• The appointment comes weeks after her controversial post about a planned marathon sex act, which she later dismissed as a joke.
• The commissioner acknowledged that "everybody has a past," emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts.
• The government hopes her influence will help drive anti-drug awareness into the "nooks and crannies" of Lagos.

This appointment signals a pragmatic, if controversial, strategy by the government to leverage the reach of digital influencers, regardless of their past controversies, to combat the deeply entrenched issue of substance abuse among the youth.

Sources: Vanguard News