At the heart of this turnaround is Governor Dr. Peter Mbah, who has declared a decisive, multi-pronged war against the menace, not just through enforcement, but with innovation, empathy, and vision.

Last Thursday, the Enugu International Conference Centre played host to a landmark stakeholders’ forum with the theme “Ending Underage Gambling in Enugu State.” It was more than an event, it was a call to arms.

Addressing the audience through Dr. Kingsley Udeh, the state’s attorney general and commissioner for Justice, Governor Mbah painted a vivid picture of the rot that underage gambling has caused, academic decline, rising petty crime, drug abuse, and lost futures.

“It is no longer a private vice,” Mbah said. “It corrodes society, fuels criminality, and destroys dreams before they are even formed.”

A New Chapter: From Chaos to Control

Since November 2024, Enugu has embraced a zero-tolerance policy, equipping the state’s Gaming and Lottery Commission with the legal and technological firepower to crack down on unlicensed gambling points.

With real-time digital surveillance, the state is not just shutting down rogue operations , it’s building a system rooted in accountability and transparency.

But enforcement is only one side of the coin. Governor Mbah made it clear: this fight is not just about shutting doors, it’s about opening better ones.

Rewriting the Future in Classrooms and Communities

In a bold shift from punishment to prevention and rehabilitation, the governor unveiled a visionary education-focused strategy.

Across the 260 Smart Green Schools in Enugu, students are now being challenged to create gamified learning tools, merging fun with financial literacy and empathy.

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

The state is also partnering with the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Enugu, to deploy early intervention programs. Instead of criminal charges, minors caught gambling will receive mental health support, peer mentorship, and structured alternatives.

“This is not just enforcement. It’s rescue,” the Governor emphasized.

Legislation Meets Innovation

In a move inspired by Lagos and the FCT, Enugu is gearing up to introduce real-time identity verification, using Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) and National Identity Numbers (NINs) to prevent minors from accessing betting platforms.

“This is no longer about best practices; it must become a legal mandate,” the governor asserted.

A Call for Collective Action

Beyond government action, Mbah issued a rousing call to the entire society, parents, teachers, religious leaders, traditional rulers, youth advocates, urging them to “crank up the conversation.”

“Our fight is not against games, but against the exploitation of our future. Young people must bet on education, hard work, and digital innovation, not gambling,” he said.

There’s also a long-term vision at play: a regulated gaming tourism sector that generates revenue under ethical, community-based standards, one that excludes underage participation entirely.

The Wider Front: Allies in the Fight

Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs, and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, warned that the fight must not be left to the government alone. If ignored, she said, underage gambling would “creep silently into homes, schools, and communities, eroding values and harming children psychologically and morally.”

Lloyd Ekweremadu, commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, added that the state is already taking action against operators flouting regulations, ensuring no one escapes scrutiny.

Meanwhile, Prince Arinze Arum, executive secretary of the Enugu State Gaming and Lottery Commission, revealed that a new bill is already progressing through the State House of Assembly. Once passed, it will give the commission even stronger oversight powers.

“No betting outlet is allowed within 100 to 200 meters of any school. And on no account must an underage person be found in any betting environment, doing so leads to immediate closure,” Arum stated firmly.

From technology to therapy, from classrooms to courtrooms, Enugu State is writing a new story, one where the odds are finally stacked in favour of its children.

Under Governor Mbah’s leadership, this is no longer a losing battle. It is a determined, hopeful march toward a brighter, safer future for the next generation.

Held at the International Conference Centre in Enugu, the seminar was part of a government-led initiative to confront the disturbing rate at which children and adolescents in the state are being exposed to gambling activities, often via mobile apps, social media platforms, and unregulated betting shops.

In his presentation titled “Your Future First: Understanding and Escaping the Dangers of Underage Gambling,” Agada addressed an auditorium filled with secondary school students, educators, and child protection advocates.

He explained that while gambling is legal in Nigeria for individuals aged 18 and above, it becomes illegal—and deeply harmful—when minors are involved.

“Gambling is not just about money; it’s about your mind, your time, and your future,” Agada said. “For children, it isn’t entertainment—it’s a trap that leads to emotional stress, poor academic performance, and in some cases, crime and addiction.”

Using simple language and interactive tools, Agada walked students through the different forms of gambling, the difference between regulated and unregulated platforms, and the dangers of being lured by the promise of “easy money.”

He advised those already exposed to gambling to speak up and seek help through parents, teachers, or counselors.

The talk also spotlighted the active role being played by the Enugu State Gaming Commission in combating the problem. Agada highlighted regulatory measures such as mandatory age verification (KYC) by licensed operators, targeted enforcement against illegal gambling operators, and public awareness campaigns across schools and communities.

“We’re working closely with operators, security agencies, and schools to ensure that children are not targeted or harmed by the gaming industry,” he added.

Reacting to the presentation, Mrs. Ngozi Eni, commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs, and Social Development, described it as “a wake-up call for parents, teachers, and the entire society.”

“It’s not just about punishing those who allow children to gamble,” she said. “It’s about educating our children, empowering our communities, and enforcing the law without compromise.”

As Nigeria’s gaming industry continues to grow, stakeholders at the event agreed that more targeted initiatives are needed to protect the nation’s youth and ensure that legal gambling remains an adult-only activity.