The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has demanded the immediate withdrawal of Ayomiposi Oluwadahunsi, known as Mandy Kiss, from her newly appointed role as the ambassador for the Lagos State Kick Against Drug Abuse (LASKADA) Initiative. The students’ body voiced its deep concerns over the controversial choice, describing the appointment as “inappropriate” and potentially “counterproductive” to the campaign’s core mission.
In a statement released Friday night, Comr. Adejuwon Olatunji Emmanuel, the Assistant Secretary General at NANS Headquarters, expressed his disapproval of the decision. He emphasized the inconsistency of Mandy Kiss’s recent public behavior with the values of responsibility, dignity, and self-control that LASKADA seeks to promote.
“We express deep concern over the recent appointment of Ayomiposi Oluwadahunsi, popularly known as Mandy Kiss, as a brand ambassador of LASKADA,” the statement read. “While the campaign itself is commendable, the choice of ambassador undermines the message of self-respect and responsibility. Just days before this appointment, she made viral statements about engaging in mass sexual activity, generating national outrage. Such statements contradict the values LASKADA is meant to champion.”
The student body further questioned the judgment of the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth & Social Development, Hon. Mobolaji Ogunlende, who approved the appointment. They argued that influence alone should not qualify someone for such a sensitive and significant role. According to NANS, the ambassador must not only possess influence but also uphold credibility, education, and a proven record of positive impact.
“While influencers may have significant reach, the right choice for such an important campaign should be someone who is not just popular but also trusted, respected, and able to inspire others in a positive manner,” NANS stated. “We believe there are many educated Nigerians, responsible social media influencers, and young role models who could have filled this role more appropriately.”
The NANS statement went on to express concerns about the long-term effects of such appointments. The body urged the Lagos State Government to withdraw the appointment and apologize to the public, particularly to students, parents, and youth advocates, whose trust in the initiative may have been shaken. NANS also called for a transparent selection process for future ambassadorial roles to ensure that the chosen figures align with the values the initiative seeks to uphold.
“We recommend that the Lagos State Government engage credible individuals — such as reformed substance-abuse survivors, responsible professionals, and influential youth leaders — to represent LASKADA,” the statement concluded. “The credibility of our youth development efforts should not be compromised for the sake of sensationalism.”
