In a decisive move to protect the future of its youth, the Enugu State Government has launched a full-scale, multi-pronged campaign to eradicate underage gambling, deploying cutting-edge technology, educational reforms, and a compassionate rehabilitation framework aimed at restoring hope and purpose to affected children.

Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, speaking through the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, made the declaration during a high-level stakeholders’ event organized by the Ministry of Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, held at the Enugu International Conference Centre on Thursday.

The event, themed “Ending Underage Gambling in Enugu State,” brought together policymakers, civil society, child rights advocates, religious leaders, and community stakeholders in a united call to action against what the governor described as a “public crisis” and “social corrosion.”

“It is no longer a private vice. It corrodes society, fuels criminality, and destroys dreams before they are even formed,” Mbah said, sounding the alarm over links between gambling, drug abuse, academic failure, and urban violence.

Since November 2024, Enugu has adopted a zero-tolerance approach to underage gambling. The Enugu State Gaming and Lottery Commission has been empowered to dismantle illegal betting points and install a real-time digital surveillance system over licensed operators.

However, the governor emphasized that technology and enforcement are only part of a broader human-centered approach.

“School, family, and community must be louder than the gambling hall,” Mbah asserted.

“We are embedding financial literacy and empathy in our Smart Green Schools, challenging students to build gamified learning tools that develop critical thinking rather than chance-based thinking.”

With 260 Smart Green Schools strategically deployed across the state, the initiative seeks to turn these institutions into launchpads for digital innovation, encouraging young minds to bet on creativity, skills, and entrepreneurship—not luck.

In a bold and compassionate shift, Governor Mbah also announced a partnership with the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Enugu, to establish early intervention programs for minors found engaging in gambling. Instead of criminalizing them, the approach will include mental health evaluations, mentorship, and structured behavioral alternatives.

“This is not just enforcement—it’s rescue,” he declared, underlining the administration’s human-first policy stance.

The governor also hinted at legislative steps to institutionalize advanced ID verification systems—including the integration of NIN and TIN checks—across gaming platforms in the state, mirroring successful models in Lagos and Abuja.

Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, echoed the urgency of collective action, stressing that parents, teachers, and traditional institutions must be actively involved.

“If left unchecked, underage gambling will creep silently into our homes and classrooms, eroding values and exposing children to psychological and social harm,” she warned.

Also present was the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Lloyd Ekweremadu, who reaffirmed the government’s resolve to sanction erring operators, while the Executive Secretary of the Gaming and Lottery Commission, Prince Arinze Arum, revealed that a bill strengthening the Commission’s oversight powers is currently before the Enugu State House of Assembly.

“No betting outlet is allowed within 100–200 meters of any school,” Arum stated, “and any operator found accommodating minors will face immediate closure.”

Governor Mbah concluded with a powerful appeal for unity:

“Our fight is not against games but against the exploitation of our children. We’re not just shutting doors—we’re opening better ones.”

As Enugu forges ahead with its tech-powered, value-driven, and child-focused approach, it is setting a bold precedent for other states across Nigeria—and Africa—to follow.