Lagos State has named social media personality Ayomiposi Oluwadahunsi, popularly known as Mandy Kiss, as a brand ambassador for the Lagos State Kick Against Drug and Substance Abuse (LASKADA).
The ambassadorship was conferred on Mandy Kiss by the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, at a LASKADA event on Tuesday. Speaking at the ceremony, the commissioner urged public participation in the fight against substance misuse and said the state needed partners who could reach large audiences.
“We’re here with Mandy Kiss. She’s agreed to become one of our LASKADA brand ambassadors,” Ogunlende said. “Drugs are a pandemic that is hitting our streets, our society, our community. The government cannot fight it alone. We must work in collaboration with those that can reach as many people as possible, and we know Mandy Kiss has a large followership — 402,000. We’ve had conversations and we’re trying to do things differently.” He added, “So, say no to drugs.”
The appointment comes after Mandy Kiss attracted national attention when she announced plans to attempt a marathon sexual act with 100 men in a single day, reportedly scheduled for September 30 in Ikorodu. The proposed event, which she initially said was intended to secure a place in the Guinness World Records, prompted public outrage and calls for official sanction. Guinness World Records later issued a statement saying it does not monitor or endorse sexual activity as a record category and distanced itself from the proposal. Mandy Kiss subsequently said her announcement had been a joke.
Addressing the controversy at the conferment, the commissioner acknowledged that “everybody has a past” and stressed the hope that the influencer’s platform would help LASKADA reach communities across Lagos. He did not provide details on the scope of her duties or any specific campaigns.
LASKADA is responsible for coordinating a multi-sectoral, evidence-based response to drug and substance abuse in Lagos State through advocacy, public education, community engagement, policy influence and research.
