New initiative to address betting addiction among youths
Researchers led by Osaretin Iyare have started a new initiative to address sports betting addiction among the youths in Nigeria. Iyare, who is an award-winning journalist, research director at the Morgan State University’s Center for New Media in the United States, and a public interest advocate co-founded the SafeHarbor to enhance the lives of affected […]
Researchers led by Osaretin Iyare have started a new initiative to address sports betting addiction among the youths in Nigeria.
Iyare, who is an award-winning journalist, research director at the Morgan State University’s Center for New Media in the United States, and a public interest advocate co-founded the SafeHarbor to enhance the lives of affected youths.
Research in 2023 by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that over 60 million Nigerians aged between 18 and 40 years engage in the multi-billion-naira sports betting industry with the proliferation of online platforms, including text messaging and aggressive marketing with many negative effects.
SafeHarbour says the “silent epidemic” also involves salary earners who bet on European football matches in expectation to recoup another lost earning.
“Beyond the flashy advertisements, I saw a quiet economic scourge and a human toll that was being ignored. Young people were losing their livelihoods, their educational futures, and their dignity. We have systems for drug and alcohol abuse, but this behavioural addiction was operating in the shadows, leaving victims with nowhere to turn,” Iyare said.
“What starts as a fun pursuit of a quick win can quickly spiral into a compulsive behaviour that destroys finances, relationships, and mental health,” explains Dr. Adaora Nwosu, a clinical psychologist and one of the lead consultants for SafeHarbor.
“We are seeing a surge in cases of severe anxiety, depression, and profound debt directly linked to uncontrolled gambling. The tragedy is that for too long, there have been almost no dedicated, accessible resources for those seeking help.”