Social media personality Ayomiposi Oluwadahunsi, known online as “Mandy Kiss,” has been unveiled as a brand ambassador for Lagos State Kick Against Drug and Substance Abuse (LASKADA). The appointment, announced on September 30, 2025, by Lagos Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, during an official event, highlights the state’s push to leverage influencers with large followings—over 400,000 in Mandy Kiss’s case—to combat the growing “pandemic” of drug abuse among youths.

Ogunlende emphasized collaboration beyond government efforts, stating, “We must work with those who can reach as many people as possible,” while officially conferring the role and urging, “Say no to drugs.”

 

Background: From Controversy to Advocacy

The timing of the ambassadorship is particularly striking, coming just days after Mandy Kiss abandoned a highly controversial Guinness World Record (GWR) attempt to engage in sex with 100 men in 24 hours, scheduled for today in Ikorodu, Lagos. The stunt, promoted via a flyer on her social media, drew widespread backlash for its explicit nature and perceived promotion of risky behavior. GWR swiftly distanced itself, clarifying it does not monitor or endorse such categories, deeming them neither “measurable, verifiable, safe, nor ethical.”

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This led to vocal opposition from traditional leaders, including Oba Akintunde Akinyemi, the Eselu of Iselu Kingdom in Ogun State’s Yewa North LGA. In an open letter dated September 26, 2025, the monarch demanded Mandy Kiss’s immediate arrest, a drug test, and psychiatric evaluation, describing her as appearing “mentally unstable” and warning that the act would “embarrass her parents, the state, the local government, and the entire nation.”

He appealed directly to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene, citing potential damage to Lagos’s reputation—home state to both the governor and President Bola Tinubu—and urged collaboration with agencies like the NDLEA to prevent the “looming public disgrace.”

Despite these calls and online criticism, Lagos proceeded with the appointment, framing it as a “call to action” for awareness and youth empowerment.

 

Public Reaction: Mixed Applause and Skepticism

Social media erupted with a blend of sarcasm, support, and outrage. On X (formerly Twitter), users mocked the irony of appointing someone linked to a hyper-sexualized stunt to an anti-drug role, with comments like “Nigerians stand and clap for at least 28 hours straight” and “Free opueh [drugs] for all the officials she will be working with.”

Others questioned the fit: “Which episode be this one again? Government together??” while Punch Newspapers’ viral video of the unveiling garnered over 2,000 views and sparked debates on ethics versus influence.

Supporters, however, praised the move as innovative, noting Mandy Kiss’s potential to “reach the nooks and crannies of Lagos” through events, educational programs, and campaigns.

In a TikTok response, Mandy Kiss expressed gratitude to the Lagos State Ministry of Youth & Social Development under Governor Sanwo-Olu, calling it “not just a title—it’s a call to action” to build a drug-free future for youths.

Some reports suggested the role might help revive her online presence amid the backlash.

 

Broader Implications

This development underscores Lagos’s evolving strategy in public health advocacy: prioritizing reach over conventional respectability. With drug abuse described as a “pandemic hitting our streets,” the state aims to engage influencers in curbing substance misuse, even amid controversy.

Critics argue it risks undermining the campaign’s credibility, especially given the monarch’s ignored pleas and the fresh scandal. As Mandy Kiss steps into advocacy, all eyes are on whether her platform will drive real change or fuel further division.