By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Dr. Jamila Ibrahim, has harped on collaboration with stakeholders to address tobacco smoking in public spaces.
The minister stated this recents when she received a team of tobacco control and youth advocates alongside Mrs. Bintou Camara-Bityeki, the Africa Regional Director at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), and local partner organizations in Abuja.
The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids is a public health organization that supports and provides technical assistance to the government and CSOs in Nigeria to enact and implement tobacco control policies.
At the meeting, Dr. Jamila Ibrahim, the Minister of Youth Development, emphasized her commitment to confront the issue of tobacco consumption among young people.
She acknowledged the significant challenges posed by tobacco use among the nation’s youth.
The minister emphasized the need for collaborations with relevant stakeholders to enlighten Nigerians about the health risks associated with youth tobacco consumption.
“We must be proactive in establishing mechanisms that adopt a preventive stance towards tobacco smoking in children. It’s imperative to adhere to the Act prohibiting tobacco smoking in public areas, especially to prevent exposure to secondhand smoke,” she stated.
Mrs Camara-Bityeki, in introducing the youth advocates, highlighted their mission to sensitize Nigerians about the hazards of tobacco use. She opined that tobacco use is the gateway to the use of other substances, and tobacco companies target the youth to replace aging or ill users to ensure their profitability. Mrs Camara-Bityeki emphasized the significance of raising awareness, stating that: “Tobacco smoking results in the deaths of eight million individuals annually, with 1.2 million connected to secondhand smoke exposure.”
Tobacco’s negative health effects are well documented, and its consumption by the younger generation poses a significant threat to the country’s future.
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