CAPPA Champions No Smoking Campaign in Nollywood
Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has launched a strong appeal to Nigeria’s film and cinema industry, urging them to maintain the momentum of the #SmokeFreeNollywood campaign. The campaign aims to shield the next generation from the manipulative strategies of the tobacco industry.
In a recent statement, Robert Egbe, CAPPA’s Media and Communication Officer, relayed the organization’s concerns about the tobacco industry’s covert tactics. Akinbode Oluwafemi, CAPPA’s Executive Director, highlighted the troubling history of the tobacco industry using movies and music to entice young people into smoking. Oluwafemi emphasized that such practices not only violate legal standards but also exacerbate Nigeria’s burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
Oluwafemi shared these views during the Lagos International Film and Cinema Convention (LIFACC), which took place on August 14 and 15, 2024, at Ebony Life Place in Victoria Island, Lagos. LIFACC is a premier event that gathers cinema owners, film distributors, producers, and other key players in the global film industry.
Represented by CAPPA’s Policy and Research Manager, Zikora Ibeh, Oluwafemi addressed the session titled “Smoking in Movies and Urgency of Regulatory Action: Lessons from Other Film Hubs.” He stressed that tobacco, being a major health hazard, is promoted deceitfully by the industry, often using entertainment media to influence youth behavior.
The CAPPA Executive Director pointed out that Nollywood films and Nigerian music videos are widely viewed, not just in Nigeria but across Africa, Asia, and Europe. He warned that the portrayal of tobacco use in these media forms could lead to increased smoking among teenagers who are influenced by what they see on screen.
Oluwafemi urged Nollywood to be vigilant against these manipulative tactics and comply with existing regulations. The National Tobacco Control Act and the National Tobacco Control Regulations prohibit the depiction, promotion, or sponsorship of tobacco in films. CAPPA has praised the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) for its recent regulations aimed at curbing the glamorization of tobacco in films and videos, aligning with global best practices.
The LIFACC convention featured notable attendees, including Hannatu Musa Musawa, the Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy; Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism Toke Benson-Awoyinka; Nigerian Film Corporation MD Ali Nuhu; NFVCB Director-General Dr. Shuaibu Husseini; Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria President Ope Ajayi; Silverbird Group Chairman Ben Murray-Bruce; and Nollywood Core Producers’ Board of Trustees member Alex Eyengho, along with other industry stakeholders.
