Public health professional and Executive Director of the Centre for the Right to Health (CRH), Dr. Stella Iwuagwu has been honoured with the prestigious TEA-PRIME Leadership Excellence Award in the category of Health Innovation and Advocacy.
The award ceremony, held at the Nigerian National Merit Award House in Maitama, Abuja, on Friday, 14 November, 2025, brought together leaders from the health, development and policy sectors, all of whom celebrated Dr. Iwuagwu’s tireless contributions to advancing the right to health and addressing pressing public health challenges in Nigeria.
During her panelist session on “Empowering Youth & Women Through Inclusive Leadership to Build Community Resilience Against Drug Abuse,” Dr. Iwuagwu provided insightful analysis of the factors driving addiction.
She emphasized that genetics play a role, alongside emotional stress and pain as a major factor influencing substance abuse.
According to her, chronic pain, unresolved trauma and genetic predispositions can make some youths more vulnerable than others.
She highlighted the negative impact of stigma and neglect, noting that judgmental attitudes toward drug users often drive youths into crime and exacerbate social challenges.
When asked about solutions, Dr. Iwuagwu stressed the importance of mentoring and supporting young people, even noting that “feeding a child’s mother” may be necessary to ensure children are cared for and nurtured.
She called for practical steps to reduce unemployment and create more job opportunities, urging communities and institutions to show compassion through rehabilitation rather than punishment.
She also emphasized the need for skill acquisition programs, referencing her Sustainable Demonstration Farms (SDFarms) as a platform for teaching young people practical skills that promote economic independence and wellness.
Dr. Iwuagwu also cautioned against over-reliance on spiritual solutions, asserting:
“We can’t pray away everything. You can’t pray away hunger, poverty, domestic abuse, or even drug abuse.”
Additionally, she has long been an advocate for inclusivity and respect for people living with disabilities, drawing on her own experience as someone living with disabilities.
She urged the nation’s leadership and institutions to ensure that disabled persons are fully integrated and empowered within society.
She advocated for community-based, systemic approaches that address the root causes of addiction and vulnerability.
Dr. Iwuagwu has led transformative initiatives at CRH, including the establishment of drop-in centres in Lagos and Abuja that provide counselling, rehabilitation services, community sensitization and policy advocacy for people struggling with drug addiction.
She also used the platform to showcase the book Shattered Dreams: The True Cost of Drug Abuse by Olu Onabolu, highlighting it as a powerful resource for raising awareness about the personal and societal consequences of addiction.
Through her work at CRH and SDFarms, Dr. Iwuagwu has combined advocacy, health promotion, and practical skill development to offer holistic solutions to complex social challenges.
