Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Osogbo, has introduced a Drug Integrity Test (DIT) for all fresh and returning students as part of measures to promote a drug-free learning environment and strengthen efforts to address substance abuse within tertiary institutions.
The directive, contained in an official circular dated November 6, 2026, and issued by the Office of the Registrar, requires all students of the university to undertake the test ahead of the 2026/2027 academic session.
The circular, referenced REGADM/CIRC/16/0030 and signed by the Registrar, Atinuke A. Afoluntunde, stated that the initiative aligns with the National Implementation Guidelines on Drug and Substance Abuse in Tertiary Institutions, approved by the 69th National Council on Education (NCE).
According to the university management, the Drug Integrity Test is a preventive and early-intervention initiative of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), designed to safeguard students’ health, wellbeing and academic development while promoting a safer university environment.
The management explained that the exercise would prioritise prevention, counselling and rehabilitation rather than punishment, with appropriate confidentiality maintained throughout the process.
Under the directive, all fresh and returning students are required to register for the test through the NDLEA’s dedicated online portal at https://drugandvisa.ndlea.gov.ng.
Following registration, students are expected to select either an NDLEA command nearest to their location or an accredited private laboratory already profiled on the portal for the administration of the test.
The university further instructed students to obtain their Drug Integrity Test Certificates upon completing the exercise and submit the certificates to the Registrar through their respective Faculty Officers.
The development represents another institutional response to growing concerns about drug and substance abuse among young people, particularly within educational environments where substance-related challenges can have implications for students’ health, academic performance, personal development and campus safety.
By adopting the initiative, UNIOSUN is aligning its institutional approach with the national framework for addressing substance abuse in tertiary institutions through preventive measures and early intervention.
The emphasis on counselling and rehabilitation, as outlined in the circular, also highlights the importance of treating substance-related challenges as public health and student-welfare concerns rather than relying exclusively on disciplinary measures.
However, the implementation of the exercise will require effective coordination among the university management, NDLEA, accredited testing facilities, faculty officers and the students expected to comply with the directive.
Students will also need to complete the registration process, undertake the test at their selected facilities and ensure that their certificates are submitted through the designated university channels.
The circular was copied to the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellors for Academic, Research, Innovation and Partnerships (ARIP) and Administration and Development (A&D), the Bursar, University Librarian, Provost, Deans, Dean of Student Affairs and Heads of Departments and Units.
With the 2026/2027 academic session approaching, the university’s directive places drug prevention and student wellbeing among the issues receiving institutional attention, reinforcing the need for a learning environment that supports students’ health, safety and academic progress.
