Category: Features

25 years after return to civil rule how has journalism fared?

By Francis Onyeukwu, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

The Nigeria’s media are among the institutions whose role in the struggle for the return of the country’s democracy in May 29, 1999 stand out.

In fact, the media remained unbowed in the heat of onslaught unleashed by the regime of Gen. Sani Abacha, now late and other military junta.

Many activists were involved in the struggle that ousted the military junta that hijacked political power through coups and counter coups for cumulative 29 out of 39 years of Nigeria’s independence in 1960.

Many human rights infractions were committed by the junta as democracy and rights activists such as Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka Ken-Saro Wiwa, Lola Omolol, Dan Suleiman, Ebitu Ukiwe and now President Bola Tinubu battled the military.

They found partners in a fearless media some of whom witnessed proscriptions and other forms of attacks as they rose stoutly in challenge of the Khaki junta.

Some journalists lost their lives in the struggle while others suffered other forms of deprivations, including ‘routine’ detention in security agencies’ dungeons.

But in spite of the contributions made by the fourth estate of the realm, not much respect and recognition seem to have come their way 25 years after the unbroken democratic governance.

Most journalists, especially those in the private media organisations, are either poorly paid or not placed on salaries.

The problem of all important training and re-training of newsmen cut across both private and public media organisations.

Dr Chris Isiguzo, President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), said it was unfortunate that in spite of their unquantifiable contribution to the return to democracy the media remain under appreciated by the society and politicians.

“Journalists and media houses took immense risks, often facing persecution, imprisonment, and even death, to ensure that the voices of the oppressed were heard and for the calls on democratic governance to be amplified.

“The press served as a beacon of hope and a rallying point for pro-democracy activists and groups, relentlessly exposing the injustices and human rights abuses perpetrated by the military regimes.

“Their courage and tenacity played a critical role in mobilising public opinions and international support for the cause of democracy,” he said.

Isiguzo says in the 25 years since the restoration of democratic governance, the media has continued to play a crucial role in consolidating and deepening democracy in Nigeria.

“It has been instrumental in holding government and public officials accountable, advocating transparency, and promoting good governance.

“Through investigative journalism, the media has uncovered numerous instances of corruption and abuse of power, thereby contributing to the fight against corruption and enhancing public trust in democratic institutions,’’ he said.

He said the implementation of restrictive laws; especially the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act of 2015 and the occasional hostility from certain government quarters underscore the ongoing struggle for true press freedom more than two decades after return to democracy.

Isiguzo insists that for democracy to thrive, it is imperative that the government not only respects but actively protects the rights of journalists to report freely.

“Many Nigerians rely on the media to stay informed and hold leaders accountable. However, the relationship is sometimes strained due to issues of trust and credibility.

“The proliferation of misinformation platforms and sensationalism in some segments of the media has led to skepticism among the public,” he said.

Malam Ali Baba Inuwa, the immediate past Head Politics Desk, News Agency of Nigeria believes that poor welfare and lack of common front among media professionals are top on the problems affecting the profession.

“When the struggle for media salary structure was being pursued it was some journalists and proprietors of media organisations that scuttled it.

“Yet it was the media that aided the struggle for enhanced salaries for medical doctors, nurses, legal officials and other groups,” he said.

Inuwa, a retired veteran journalist also said that the albatross of media practice in Nigeria are both the society and government.

“I began my media practice in the 1990s and the respect for the media then was better than what we are seeing now.

“In spite the position of the media in the fight for the return of civil rule, the military had good respect and the people held journalists in higher esteem than now.

“I recalled with nostalgia, in NAN quarters then, it was only two persons that had Volkswagen cars, the salary wasn’t too fantastic and yet people respected us when they noticed we are journalists in social gatherings” he said.

Inuwa, who recently retired from the services of NAN, said Nigerians, especially politicians, no longer regard the media and their contributions in restoration of civil rule.

“I was driving an SUV vehicle recently and at a checkpoint, security personnel stopped me, when I introduced myself as a journalist, he said ‘hmm,’ does journalist also drive jeep’’, he said.

Inuwa, however, urged Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to sanitise the profession by flushing out quacks, even as he urged the federal government to revisit the media salary structure demand.

This, he said, was important for Nigeria’s media to effectively operate as catalyst for social change.

For Emmanuel Ifesinachi, the Vice-President NUJ, South East Zone, it is unfortunate that the media was at the front burner in the struggle for the return of democracy but today treated as the goose that lays the golden egg.

“Some journalists such as late Dele Giwa were manhandled, brutalised, jailed and even killed in the course of the struggle to restore democracy.

“It is painful and unbelievable that the Media which served as the oxygen for democracy after its members’ paid high prize for the enthronement of democracy are now seen as misfit, unwanted, irrelevant and liability in the Society.

“The political class now perceived the media as their enemies either that they don’t understand the function of journalism or they don’t want the society to properly assess information to enable the citizens enjoy full dividends of democracy“, he said.

Ifesinachi blamed quackery in the profession on poor welfare scheme because authentic newsmen were moving to more lucrative disciplines.

“The media has been acting as a voice for the oppressed and a platform for pro-democracy movements.

“During the military regime, journalists faced harassment, imprisonment, and censorship but persisted in exposing abuses and advocating for democratic values.

“In the 25 years of unbroken democracy, the media has been instrumental in promoting transparency, accountability and civic engagement therefore should be recognised and given its place of honour,’’ said Grace Ike, of ADBN Television Media Organisation and chairperson, House of Representatives Press Corps.

Ike said challenges such as press freedom limitations, harassment, and the spread of misinformation still persist, requiring efforts to safeguard journalistic independence and integrity.

According to her, the media should be a cornerstone in Nigeria’s quest for better governance, serving as a watchdog that holds leaders accountable, informs the public, and fosters transparency.

She observed that those basking in the euphoria of the silver jubilee of the nation’s return to democracy should be made to remember how democracy was won.

Igwe Nomeh, former state chairman of People Democratic Party (PDP), Ebonyi, shares the same sentiment as Ike.

He said as Nigeria celebrates democracy rule, the media should be respected for its role in the struggle that gave rise to the celebration.

“In the dark days of military regime, journalists fearlessly put their lives on the line to expose various human rights violations which attracted both regional and international interests resulting to the return of civilian administration in 1999’’, he said.

Nomeh added even the political class who today is the highest beneficiary of democracy was not too visible during the struggle.

“I treasure the contributions of the media because without them, the military would have continued to hold everyone hostage,’’ he said.

Nomeh observed with regrets that in spite the contributions of the media, not much attention is being given to the sector by the government.

He recommended a good welfare package and development of the profession through training and re-training as done in other climes.

It is evident that the media professionals in Nigeria have not been appreciated enough as evident in the poor welfare, working tools and environment in which they operate.

It is therefore incumbent on media operators, both private and public to re-evaluate what they provide for their media employees.

That is one of the best ways to ensure newsmen also enjoy the dividends of democracy which they worked for. (NANFeatures)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.

Addressing housing deficit in Nigeria through Renewed Hope Agenda

By Angela Atabo (News Agency of Nigeria)

Housing is one of the basic needs of man. It means more than just a shelter. It is provides man with a living environment, protection, privacy and facilitating social, economic and cultural achievements.

The performance of the housing sector is one of the measures by which the health of a nation is measured because of significance to the promotion of economic growth and development.

Nigeria’s housing challenge has been of concern in the last three decade with different government proffering different solution towards bridging the yawning gap for the citizens.

In 2010, the housing deficit was 14 million; it rose to 20 million in 2018 and in 2023 it rose to 28 million.

President Bola Tinubu in his quest to ensure that Nigeria’s housing deficit is bridged; said he is determined to face the housing challenge bedeviling Nigeria with the required attention.

To this end, he reeled out his vision for the housing sector under the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates programme. This will offer affordable housing to low-income earners and other Nigerians whose income is below the medium household earnings.

Tinubu took a bold step to make this vision a reality at the  ground breaking ceremony of the pilot phase of the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates programme in Karasana, Abuja, for the construction of 50,000 houses across  Nigeria under the first phase by the end of 2024.

“We aim to promote Public Private Partnership (PPP) collaborations that attract domestic, foreign, and diaspora investments.

“We are resolved to facing the housing challenge with the clarity of purpose and determination that is required to break all the barriers that stand in our way of success,’’ he said

In alignment with the President’s housing plan, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development initiated a vision to create an efficient housing market. Central to the ministry’s overall strategic action plan is to increase the availability of affordable housing.

This is through the Renewed Hope Cities and Estate Programme, National Slum upgrade programme, National Housing Programme-Sale of Homes, Creation of a National Social Housing Fund and commencement of Housing sector reforms.

According to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, the government approved N126.5bn from the 2023 supplementary and 2024 budget for the housing programme as well as the slum upgrade and urban renewal.

Dangiwa said, presently the Federal Government has estates in 12 states and three cities nationwide.

The estates, he said, are in Katsina, Yobe, Gombe, Abia, Nasarawa, Benue, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Sokoto, Oyo, and Osun States while the cities are in Abuja, Yobe, and Lagos.

He said that contractors have been mobilised and have commenced work to deliver a total of 3,500.

He added that a MoU with reputable developers was signed to construct 100,000 housing units nationwide and work has commenced for 3,112 housing units under the PPP bringing the total number of housing units currently under construction to 6,612.

“Under this concept, the housing units built in the Renewed Hope Cities will be sold at commercial rate while a substantial percentage will be sold at concessionary rates to low- and medium-income Nigerians who are members of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.

“The construction of the planned 50,000 units under phase one will create 1.25 million direct and indirect construction jobs in addition to the value chain effects of purchase, supply of building materials, businesses around the construction sites.

“From the Ministry’s 2024 Approved Budget, another batch of Renewed Hope Estates comprising 250-housing units each in six additional states totaling 1,500 housing units would be rolled out.

“To guarantee access to these houses, the ministry unveiled a website https://renewedhopehomes.fmhud.gov.ng as the  Renewed Hope Cities and Estates web portal, where Nigerians can apply, including those in Diaspora, to ease the process of acquiring homes that we are building under the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme,’’ he said

He said the ministry has received about  8,925 expression of interest for the Renewed Hope Estates and Cities housing scheme that comprises of 1,294 for outright purchase, 2,408 for mortgage, 2,184 for rent-to-own and 3,039 for installment payment.

Dangiwa said an Executive Bill to amend the obsolete Land Use Act 1978 that has hindered the development of the housing sector is currently being drafted.

He added that other reforms include the establishment of the National Land Commission, the review of relevant laws and facilitation of necessary legislative amendments.

“These includes the following: The Land Use Act, 1978, National Housing Fund (NHF) Act,1992, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN),Establishment Act, 1993, Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Act,1973 and The PenCom Act,’’ he said

In the bid to make the Renewed Hope Housing programme a success, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), is also collaborating with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to deliver affordable housing to Nigerians.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive of FHA, Oyetunde Ojo, said the management of FHA went on a working visit to the six geo-political zones to have access to lands for the delivery of affordable housing to Nigerians.

“Once the state governments give FHA the off-takers (lands), part of the requirement was to have a mortgage bank to stand for the off takers. But that is yet to happen and that is why we are partnering with the FMBN to get funds for building the houses.

“I can assure you that  lands are  now available all over the country as we speak  in 22 states, minimum of 50 hectares some 100, some 150  what is needed is finance for development.’’

Also the CEO of FMBN, Shehu Osidi, said that the organisation would continue to provide mortgages in order to actualise the vision of the president in the housing sector.

According to him, the mandate of FMBN is to provide homeownership, by way of mortgage financing to the lower and middle income earners in this country.

“This is for Nigerian workers in the public and private sectors, but even self-employed individuals are also at liberty to contribute to the National Housing Fund and take advantage of our various loan products.

He said that the FMBN was making an effort to complete all its outstanding housing estates located in different parts of the country and ensure they are taken.

“Going forward, we are introducing a lot of professionalism and diligence in the identification of locations for our new projects.

“The profiling and selection of potential off takers to ensure that only those with ability and capacity to repay their mortgage loans are offered mortgages is key.

“We are creating easy access to our various products and our processes will be seamless for people to get their mortgages approved and get houses and a collaboration with FHA is a step in the right direction.’’

Nevertheless, while experts and professional bodies like the Real Estate Developers Association (REDAN), Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) among others applauds the Renewed Hope Housing agenda of the president as a step towards addressing the housing deficit; they however, said amendment of major laws is also crucial.

Dr Samson Opaluwa, Chairman of CORBON, called for the review of the Builders Registration Act to ensure that only qualified professionals contribute to the nation’s growth to avoid building collapse.

“This aims to enhance our regulatory capabilities, curb quackery in the building industry, and ensure that only qualified and content professionals contribute to the growth of our nation in this sector.”

The Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) also seeks an amendment to its acts as well as putting in place strategies to encourage private sector participation in housing supply and the use of alternative building materials and technologies to reduce construction costs.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng) (NANFeatures)

Creating economic opportunities through fish farming

By Abiemwense Moru, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Nigeria is one of the countries blessed with many natural resources that could create job opportunities for their citizens and boost their economies through local production.

Currently, Nigeria is facing severe unemployment challenges. Many population experts blame many social strife in the nation today such as insecurity, cyber-crimes, cultism, armed robbery, human trafficking, kidnapping on unemployment.

According to the custodians of Nigeria’s statistics, the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s unemployment rate rose to 5.0 per cent in the third quarter of 2023 from 4.2 per cent in the previous quarter.

“The report read, ‘The unemployment rate increased significantly in Q3 2023 at 5.0 per cent. This is an increase of 0.8 per cent from Q2 2023.

“In Q3 2023, the labour force participation rate in Nigeria was 79.5 per cent, having been 80.4 per cent in Q2 2023.

“The employment-to-population ratio was 75.6 per cent in Q3 with a decrease of 1.5 per cent compared to a ratio of Q2”, the report said.

The employment in the agricultural sector as share of total employment in Nigeria saw no significant changes in 2022 in comparison to the previous year 2021 and remained at around 37.99 percent’’, stays statista on employment data in Nigeria.

One area of agriculture that has not reached its potential as a source of employment in Nigeria is fish farming. Fish farming largely been ignored even when it has the potential to be a major source of income for families and the nation.

In Dadin Kowa community,  Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State fish farmers say they are making huge profits from the trade.

In separate interviews with NAN they said  availability of water supply all-year round had enhanced their businesses.

Mr Sani Hashimu, a 43-year-old  fish farmer said his economic profile had improved since he took to fish farming.

Hashimu said he began the occupation with just one fish pond but gradually expanded to two, with one pond having 3,000 fish capacity.

He said he harvested fish from his ponds twice a year and, all things being equal, he earns N2 million profit from both ponds.

“I have never made money like I make from fish farming; in fact I became a millionaire through fish farming.

“This business of keeping fish and selling them when they are matured is really good and has better returns on investment than other aspects of farming,” he said.

For Mr Ezra Amos, a 73-year-old member of the community, said he raked in millions of naira from fish farming from his premises where the fish farm is situated.

Amos, who has been in the agribusiness for 12 years now, said fish farming was helping him live a good life after retirement, adding that he made good profit from the vocation yearly.

He said that he made over N3 million from fish farming in 2020 but noted that the business was now more expensive to run because of high cost of feeds.

He said his investment in agriculture was paying him more than when he was in service, adding that he had no regrets whatsoever that he was now a fish farmer..

Also, Mr Adamu Mahmuda, a staff of Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in Gombe State office, told NAN that he earned over N1 million from fish farming in 2023 as his part time business.

Mahmuda, who said civil servants could earn additional money through agriculture, said he established his fish farm two years ago with N300,000.

He said he had expanded the vocation and had started making his profits in millions annually, and described fish farming as more profitable than salary-paying jobs if one invested in the agribusiness.

“This fish farming is more than any salary if you invest well and acquire the right knowledge. You will never regret venturing into the vocation.

“My annual profit for now is more than N1 million and I am just two years old in the business and just operating on a small scale, being a civil servant”, he said.

For Mr Daniel Maji, another civil servant in the area, the community had become a fishing hub, adding that through the business, lots of jobs had been created with multiplier effects on the economy of the community.

Meanwhile, Mrs Oghogho Musa, President Defence and Police Officers Wives Association DEPOWA, says wives of personnel of security agencies could take to fish farming to earn extra money for their families.

Musa gave the advice at a One-Day Seminar on Fish Farming and Financial Literacy, organised by DEPOWA for barracks women in Abuja.

“The whole essence of this seminar is to empower you with the right knowledge and necessary tools that will enable you make informed decisions in your financial planning and management strategies for fish farming business”, she said.

According to a fish farmer, Mr Best Tomter, fish farming was one of the easiest agricultural businesses to start as it could be opened with as little as N150,000.

“Fish farming is very lucrative because, currently our fish consumption in Nigeria stands at 3.2 million metric tons annually and then what our local production produces is just 1.2 million metric tons.

“So you can see that we have over 2.2 million metric tons deficit in fish production currently in Nigeria.

“So we need people to fill up that gap and there is market for fish farming,” he said.

The Federal Government said it is aware of the potential in fish farming to boost the economy through export and job creation.

Consequently, the minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, said the government was targeting the production of 18 million tons of fish, of which 15 million will be exported.

In 2023, the federal government launched a four year strategic plan, the National Aquatic Animal Health Strategy (NAAHS) (2023-2027) meant to improve and ensure safe fishery production in Nigeria.

Speaking at an event in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe said the move was to address the challenges bedeviling the aquaculture sub-sector of the economy.

It is heart warming that the government recongnises what fish farming can contribute to the nation’s economy and its job creation drive. The next step is to go beyond policy document and watch words with action. (NANFeatures)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria. 

Engaging Nollywood to showcase Nigeria’s tourism endowment

By Joshua Olomu, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

All over the world film is more than an entertainment outlet. It is used as a tool for shaping opinions, driving national narratives to the larger world and projecting a nation’s cultures, economic, technological and other advantages.

Besides its entertainment value, one area where the motion picture is intentionally applied is as a tool for global marketing and advertisement of the tourism sector.

Films are unique platforms for promoting tourism, offering a blend of entertainment and destination marketing that can captivate audiences and inspire travel.

Some of the most admired and visited tourist attractions and destinations, such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Great Wall of China attracted global attention through the power of the visual media.

The wonder of the screen can make tourists travel from around the world to visit the Statue of Liberty in New York and the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.

Films are powerful tools for promoting tourism by bringing destinations to life, showcasing their unique attributes, and inspiring audiences to visit the real-world locations they have seen on screen.

The Nigeria’s film industry, known as Nollywood, is globally recognised as the second largest film producer in the world, turning out over 2,500 movies yearly.

It is only surpassed by Bollywood of India, even though Nollywood does not rake in as much income annually as the others, it is renowned for its rich and unique story telling attributes.

Before COVID-19 pandemic erupted Hollywood contributed $504 billion to the U.S. GDP. The figure represents at least 3.2 per cent of the goods and services portion of GDP.

Conversely, according to a research firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Nigeria’s film industry contributed only $660 million to Nigeria’s GDP in 2021.

One of those who think Nollywood can do better in terms of revenue generation for the country is the Vice-Chancellor, University of Abuja, Prof AbdulRasheed Na’Allah.

“Nollywood can turn around the fortunes of the Nigerian economy. The government must understand that now.

“It is in the interest of the government to know that film industries are multi-million-dollar ventures. They can create wealth.

“From all over the world, people are watching Nollywood. People are beginning to know Nigeria through Nollywood.

“Is it our music, film, cultural dance, or language? We are taking the world by surprise, and because it is going to Japan, China and America, it is creating foreign reserves for Nigeria”, he said.

He spoke at a three-day conference in Abuja, yesterday, in honour of visiting lecturer, Prof Onookome Okome of the Department of English and Film Studies, University of Alberta, Canada, the VC tasked the Federal Government to support Nollywood.

Just like the Nigerian music brand, Afrobeat, Nollywood products has evolved to become global brands that are known and accepted across the world.

In recent times, the industry has produce blockbusters that have been screened in international cinemas, nominated and screened at prestigious festivals such as the Toronto Film Festival, Berlin Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, among others.

Therefore, it can be argued that Nollywood, as one of Nigeria’s best exports to the world, has not been adequately engaged in showcasing the nation’s rich tourism potential to attract inbound tourists.

Nigeria is known for its rich historical and cultural heritage, breath-taking landscapes and diverse wildlife, which position it as a potential choice destination for tourists seeking unique experiences and adventures.

The country is home to nature tourism, with a lot of natural attractions, including lush rainforest, Savannas, wetlands and unique flora and fauna, spread across its six geopolitical zones.

This diverse ecosystem  offer interesting  activities  to tourists, such as  bird-watching,photography,star-gazing,camping,hunting,fishing,hiking and games viewing.

However, with these amazing tourism attractions spread across the country, beside various cultural fiesta and celebrations, Nigeria is yet to be classified as global tourism destination.

In the 2019 UNTWO World Tourism Ranking, Nigeria was not among the first 10 countries in Africa, with Egypt, Morocco and South Africa standing at first, second and third positions in that order.

Primarily, this ranking is based number of visitors and the income generated from the sector within the period.

Perhaps, inadequate packaging, promotion and effective marketing of the nation’s tourism attractions to the global market is the major drawback to the sector, and this  is where Nollywood should be engaged by relevant authorities.

There is need for synergy between industry players, and this is where the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) and the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) need to show political will, patriotism and commitment.

NFC has the mandate to establish a robust framework for fostering a thriving and enduring film industry and cinema culture in Nigeria, and thereby actively contributing to the socio-economic advancement of the nation.

One of the NFC’s cardinal functions is to produce films for domestic consumption and export, and this is what puts it in the best position to engage stakeholders in Nollywood.

NTDA is responsible for the planning, supervision, development and marketing of tourism in Nigeria, and it has the duty to encourage people living in Nigeria to take their holidays therein and people from abroad to visit Nigeria.

These agencies need to join hands to initiate a pilot project and engage relevant guilds in Nollywood including   the Screen Writers Association of Nigeria, Association of Movie Producers and the Actors Guild of Nigeria.

At the ideation stage of the project, a script should be written with a story line that set historical and cultural   landmarks, parks and wildlife as locations for such film.

Other tourist locations such as Yankari Game Reserves,  Ikogosi warm spring, Erin Ijesha water fall, Ojukwu Bunker, among others should as well  be captured.

The various cultural festivals such as Argungu Fishing Festival, Osun Osogbo Festival, the  Calabar Carnival and others should be reflected in such project.

The Federal Government, through its relevant ministries, should as well come up with an incentive mechanism for filmmakers whose projects tends to promote the nation’s tourism landscape.

These collaborations between filmmakers and tourism authorities will consequently   lead to joint marketing efforts where film trailers can be paired with tourism advertisements, and locations can offer incentives for film crews to shoot there.

There is no doubt, if well engaged, Nollywood films will introduce audiences to locations they might not have known about, effectively serving as advertisements for these places.

Such films will also highlight the cultural aspects of a location, from food and festivals to traditions and architecture, and this cultural exposure can evoke viewers’ interest in experiencing these elements first hand.

As Nollwood   films take more dominant place on global stage, using them to highlight the rich tourism attractions that abound in the country will create emotional connections with viewers.

This will attract both domestic and inbound tourists to locations  which will ultimately bring  sustainable tourism  development and make the sector a major source of national revenue.

To be a vehicle for selling Nigerian’s tourism potential to the international community, Nollywood should take the positives from the country.

Then Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, addressed this concern at Leadership Master Training for Nollywood Celebrities and Stakeholders training under the platform of Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN).

“Beyond the questions of economics and profit, there is the issue of the critical role of Nollywood in influencing culture, defining national character, and promoting national identity.

 “You also have a responsibility to tell the best stories of our beloved country’’, said Gbajabiamila, now Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.

The Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, acknowledges to enormity of the task but remains upbeat about what the industry can do.

“We are uniquely positioned in this great nation, endowed with an abundance of human capital and boundless possibilities.

“Our collective aim is singular, and it is bold: to position Nigeria as the world’s culture, creativity and entertainment capital“, she said. (NANFeatures)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.

Assessing 2024-2027 Education Roadmap one year after

A News Analysis by Funmilayo Adeyemi, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

President Bola Tinubu on assumption into office on May 29, 2023 reiterated the commitment of his administration to education for human capital development in the country.

Tinubu gave approval for a comprehensive set of policies aimed at overhauling Nigeria’s education sector which focused on four initiatives — Data Repository, Out-of-School Children, Teacher Training and Development and Skill Development and Acquisition.

Educationists have recalled that as laudable as the roadmap suggests, the number of out-of-school children is currently a subject of controversy.

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Education and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) put the figure at 18.5 million and 20 million respectively but the government insists the figure is less.

Irrespective of the controversy, Tinubu urged the Federal Ministry of Education and all stakeholders in the sector to work together to see this vision accomplished.

The ministry began by developing a 2024-2027 Education Roadmap as well as the Ministerial Deliverables entitled “Education for Renewed Hope’’.

The roadmap contains practical, problem-solving and realistic approaches across 13 thematic areas delineated to allow for concurrent implementation as parts of a synergistic whole.

The roadmap underpins the ministerial deliverables, a compact signed between the management of the Federal Ministry of Education and the president for which the education ministry would be held accountable.

The roadmap being developed has heavy concentration on the need to have out-of-school children reduced, with the target of increasing school enrolment, transition and completion for learners.

The ministry, through the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project, currently running in 18 states, has enrolled more than three million girls in secondary education.

Also, through the project, more than 5,000 classrooms have been constructed with 84,567 teaching and learning materials provided to schools in the beneficiary states.

Speaking in an interview, the National Project Coordinator of AGILE, Mrs Amina Haruna, said that AGILE, a World Bank assisted project, was aimed at improving secondary education opportunities for adolescent girls in 18 participating states.

Haruna said that the project had also benefitted millions of students with life skills and digital skills.

According to her, this project is aligned with the major focus of the ministry at the moment which is to strengthen education at the basic and secondary education level.

She said that the project had not only brought academic programmes to the students but also included hands on skills to make the students self-reliant.

“The boys are not left out as they also benefit from this project through our visibility in the mixed schools.

“The only thing the boys are not enjoying in this project is the cash incentives, any other thing is enjoyed by both the boys and girls,’’ she said.

Haruna said that the project had the components for looking at the challenges students faced in going to school such as proximity, WASH facilities and environment conducive for quality learning and teaching and also acquiring skills.

“From all the components, we started with renovations, and we worked on what would give a good shape to the school and by the time girls start enrolling, they are fully accommodated.

“Then, we look at infrastructure, bringing enough facilities that the children can use and also for their teachers.

“A communication campaign is also provided to enlighten and talk to the parents, traditional rulers about the importance of education.

“We are also looking at a session where we can teach them how to build their confidence and talk to them about the reproductive system so that they can understand what they should expect when they are growing up,’’ she said.

She added that the project had provided the students with digital literacy and conditional cash transfer as a financial incentives given to beneficiaries and their caregivers to support their education.

“During this mission, we have touched the lives of 3,143,497 people; we also have 1,664,170 girls benefiting from the direct intervention of this project.

“We have 1,155,469 girls enrolled in junior and senior secondary school. There’s also a 69 per cent completion rate in senior secondary school.

“We have renovated more than 5,238 junior secondary classrooms and 6,134 classrooms have been renovated for the senior secondary school.

“There are more than 537 separate toilet facilities made for girls in senior secondary schools. In over all, we have touched about 13,663,478 community members,’’ Haruna said.

She further said more than 568 schools were running digital literacy programmes, noting that a new component of the project called second chance had been introduced.

According to her, each of the states has identified centres where each girl can have literacy and skills so that they will be independent and also contribute to the economy of the country.

The national coordinator explained that with the success stories of the project, the number of out-of-school children would be reduced drastically by the end of this administration.

Corroborating this, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman at a retreat on implementation of Ministerial Deliverables of the Education for Renewed Hope held in Akwa Ibom, emphasised the need to reduce the out-of-school number.

Mamman said there was need to develop the teacher’s skills that would strengthen and prepare them to teach the children the identified skills needed for the 21st Century knowledge-driven economy.

“Suffice it to say that it is an embarrassment that Nigeria is continually associated with the highest number of out-of-school children in the world.

“I would not want to bother you with the number of out-of-school children in the country. We would be paying particular attention to this unacceptable phenomenon.

“And in line with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment, we will work towards returning 15 million out-of-school children back to the classrooms by the year 2027.

“We will re-invigorate our focus on basic education, including ensuring the harmonisation and coordination of resources and activities among all tiers of government and development partners.

“We have, therefore, begun operationalising the establishment of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children and approved a policy on Early Child Care Development Education.

“We have begun engagement with state governments on removing bottlenecks that negatively impacted their ability to optimally utilise the Universal Basic Education Funds,’’ he said.

Mamman said that the state governments would fulfill jointly agreed counterpart obligations on efficient programme execution and achievement of results.

He said that a national policy on senior secondary and re-entry guidelines for adolescent girls who dropped out of school prematurely had also been developed and adopted.

He said tht the policy was to advance the government’s interventions of returning more Nigerian children back to school.

“To do this, we are placing a high premium on foundational and basic education and strengthening integration of existing non-formal schools into formal education systems.

“We are scaling-up adult literacy and non-formal education interventions, increasing opportunities for girl-child education and forging partnerships with all tiers of government as well as our development partners,’’ he said.

The Federal Government has also put in place upgrading of schools across the country with the aim of providing environment conducive for learning and teaching.

The Executive Secretary, National Senior Secondary Education Commission, Dr Iyela Ajayi, said that the upgrading of 50 selected senior secondary schools across the country had begun.

Ajayi explained that federal government colleges are now undergoing renovations in order to give the schools a face lift.

He added that President Bola Tinubu placed high priority in the development of the education sector, hence evident in the budget allocation to the sector in the 2024 Appropriation Act.

“Upgrade of the 50 selected senior secondary schools across the nation, which was captured in the 2024 budget, is a clear testimony of this administration’s commitment to the development of senior secondary education on the country,’’ he said.

In furtherance to this and in a renewed move to enhance sustainable growth in education, the Federal Government has also concluded plans to embark on 13 new infrastructure projects at the National Mass Literacy and Adult Education Commission (NMEC), Kano Centre, through Public/Private Partnership.

The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, noted that this was to kick-start the proposed land-swap deal for the development of critical infrastructure in Kano.

According to him, the public private partnership project would mark a turning point in literacy education of adults across the country.

He regretted that it was unfortunate that Nigeria still had a significant number of adults who are either illiterate or have limited literacy skills.

“This is another milestone as a progress in the ministry where we are having it with private public partnership and this is also in the eight point agenda of the President Bola Tinubu, ’’ he said.

The minister said that the 13 new infrastructure projects would include semi-detached two and three bedroom bungalows, state-of-the-art classrooms, clinic, library, hostels, a lecture theatre and recreational facilities, among others that were hitherto lacking.

It is obvious that the government is not resting on its oars to take the education sector out of the woods with all these laudable policies.

Needless to say that with proper implementation, all these measures and policies put in place; the country will be on its way to belong to the committee of nations that boast of zero out-of-school children with a well-trained, skilled and equipped teaching staff members.(NANFeatures)(www.nannews.ng)

**If used, please, credit the writer as well as News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Analysis by Celine-Damilola Oyewole, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

“I am here also as a Nigerian to support President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the country.

“With the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), we shall assist the vulnerable groups; we shall try to see what we can do to naturally meet their needs.

”We hope to take off with unspent funds from the 2023 campaign purse, after which we shall solicit for funds from private organisations, international donors, Non-Governmental Organisations and free will givers.

These were the words of the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu on June 24, 2023 at the State House when she inaugurated her pet project, RHI, designed to cater for vulnerable women, youth and children.

Mrs Tinubu specifically said that the initiative aimed at empowering women, youths and children with focus on five key areas of agriculture, education, economic empowerment, health and social-investment.

To hit the ground running, the first lady on June 24, 2023 constituted a Governing Council Board for the pet project.

Members of the Governing Board include: the First Lady; wife of the vice president, Hajiya Nana Shettima and wife of the Senate President, Mrs Ekaette Akpabio.

Others are; wife of the Chief of Staff, Mrs Salamatu Gbajabiamila; wife of the Imo State governor, Mrs Chioma Uzodinma and the then All Progressive Congress (APC) National Women Leader, Dr Betta Edu.

Two weeks after the inauguration of the board, Mrs Tinubu met with the wives of the 36 State Governors to formally introduce and acquaint them with the objectives and the mission of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).

At the meeting Mrs Tinubu reminded the governors’ wives that it was time to keep promises made during the elections.

According to her, she will require their support to reach every nook and cranny of the country.

The First Lady assured the governors’ wives that, the RHI will not in any way interfere with their personal programmes and projects, rather, she believed that their support would be impactful.

“I wish to remind each of us that the exalted positions we are in today should be seen as an opportunity to impact more meaningfully, not only in the lives of people in your states but Nigeria as a whole.”

About two months into its inauguration, RHI had started yielding fruits with the graduation of first set of 35 women on ICT training and empowerment programme.

The training done in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA was in keeping with RHI mandate of empowering Nigerian women with enabling skills.

Mrs Tinubu in her address at the graduation ceremony, emphasised the importance of digital literacy and its role in fostering economic independence, noting that the skills were indispensable tools for driving growth and innovation.

The participants, drawn from across the FCT, were given starter packs which include a laptop and N75, 000 cash to enable them practice what they had learnt.

The first Lady said the training would also assist those already in business to project their businesses to the public, while adding value to the society.

Similarly, in response to the yawning gap in girls’ education, the first Lady through her pet project introduced the Alternative High School for Girls who drop out of schools.

Mrs Tinubu who launched the programme in Oshogbo, said It would offer a second chance opportunity to young girls who dropped out of school to continue their education and fulfill their dreams and aspirations.

“Our girls are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are the leaders of today. It is high time we break down barriers that have held them back for long.

“Education is the key weapon that we must use to ensure that every girl is free from discrimination and intimidation,” she said

In addition to declaring support for the Federal Government’s Students Loan Scheme, the first lady, also, through RHI, offered full scholarship opportunities to 200 deserving students across the country to study at the African School of Economics Nigeria.

The school is in affiliation with Princeton University, U.S, under the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership For Africa’s Development-AUDA-NEPAD/RHI Scholarship Programme.

Also, in December 2023, Mrs Tinubu, through RHI, gave scholarship grant of N1 million and a new laptop to each of the five kidnapped undergraduates of Federal University Dutsinma, Katstina state, after they were rescued from their abductors.

Mrs Tinubu also awarded N46 million scholarships to university students who were unable to pay their school fees.

In line with RHI vision of advocating gender equity through inclusive education, Mrs Tinubu championed the #WeAreEqual campaign nationwide, which focuses on education as a powerful tool for change.

The first lady launched the initiative in Abuja when she hosted some first ladies across the African continent at the State House Banquet Hall.

She said the initiative, led by the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAND), will last for one year.

The first lady raised concern over the rate of school dropouts among girls and primary school pupils in Nigeria

In the agriculture sector, the first lady, has, at different occasions, reiterated that her aim is to contribute to food sufficiency in the country by supporting women farmers and encouraging them to expand their agricultural ventures.

To this effect, Mrs Tinubu, launched the RHI–Women Agricultural Support Programme (RHI-WASP) empowering women farmers in each of the 36 states and FCT with N10 million.

The inauguration of the programme and disbursement of the grant was done on geo-political zones basis

Specifically, on April 17, The RHI-WASP was inaugurated simultaneously in four zones of the federation: the Southwest, the Northcentral, the Northeast, the Northwest.

During the launch of the Southwest zone of the programme at June 12 Cultural Centre in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, Mrs Tinubu presented cheques of N10 million to each of the six states in the Southwest – Ogun, Lagos, Osun, Oyo, Ondo, and Ekiti.

She said the money was for onward disbursement to the beneficiaries – 120 women farmers selected across the states who are involved in animal husbandry, poultry farming, and fishery.

The First Lady also gave N100,000 each to 100 physically challenged entrepreneurs to boost their businesses.

“The administration of President Tinubu recognises the pivotal role agriculture plays in achieving sustainable development and ensuring food sufficiency.

“Therefore, the Renewed Hope Initiative commitment to supporting women farmers nationwide aligns with the broader agenda to strengthen agricultural sector

“Today, we are supporting 20 women per states in the Southwest with N500,000 each.

“To this end, a draft cheque of N10 million per state will be handed over to the first ladies who are the Coordinators of this programme in each of the Southwest states for disbursement to the beneficiaries.”

She urged the beneficiaries to expand their farming entrepreneurship, improve their contribution to national and local food production and serve as role models to aspiring women in the country.

Also, during the launch of the Northcentral zone of the programme in Jos, the Plateau State capital, Mrs Tinubu announced the release of N10 million to women farmers in each of the states in the zone.

Twenty women were selected from each of the states in the zone – Kogi; Benue; Plateau; Kwara; Niger; Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) – totalling 140 women.

In the Northwest, comprising Kebbi; Katsina; Kaduna; Kano; Jigawa; Sokoto and Zamfara states, held in Birnin-Kebbi, Mrs Tinubu announced a competition, called “Every Home A Garden”.

The First Lady who was represented by the wife of House of Representatives Speaker, Hajiya Fatima Tajuddeen Abbas, said the competition was meant “to encourage each Nigerian woman to cultivate a garden at home to feed the family and share with neighbours. We want to see food on every table”.

The winner of the competition, she added, would get N20 million star prize by December 2024.

Also, in the Northeast, which comprises Adamawa; Bauchi; Borno; Gombe; Taraba and Yobe state, held in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, the First Lady distributed cheques to some of the pre-selected recipients of women farmers and Persons with Disability Small Business Owners in the state.

Mrs Tinubu, who was represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, announced that other upcoming initiatives under the RHI include “Food on EveryTable” and “Young Farmers’ Club”.

In the health sector, the first Lady, in March 2023, donated N1 billion through RHI to support the fight to end the tuberculosis epidemic in Nigeria by 2030.

The event was her investiture as the Global and National Stop Tuberculosis (TB) Champion

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), TB is the second leading infectious killer disease after COVID-19 (above HIV and AIDS). with a total number of 1.3 million people globally died from the disease in 2022.

Similarly, in May, 2024, at the opening ceremony of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Mrs Tinubu openly disclosed her interest in championing the advocacy for cancer awareness and prevention in Nigeria and across Africa.

She reiterated that her pet project, RHI, prioritised support for vulnerable populations, including women and children, who are disproportionately affected by cancer.

The First Lady also assisted victims of natural disaster through her pet project, such as the cash gift of N250,000 to each of the 57 families affected by flood at the Trademore Estate, Lugbe in Abuja

A sum of ₦500 million was also disbursed as relief and resettlement packages to 500 families in Plateau State and other states like Bornu, Kogi, Benue and other states.

One Mrs Olufunke Adeola, a benefactor of RHI training in Lagos said “I was able to start my own business and support my family.

“I want to appreciate the first lady. Thank you ma, for the entrepreneurship training and funding I received from the Renewed Hope Initiative.”

Also, Mrs Nneoma David, an Owweri resident said “”The RHI agricultural support scheme helped me to expand my farm and increase my yield.

“Now, I can feed my family and even sell some produce in the market.”

Similarly, Mrs Fatima Mohammed from Kano said “the education support programme has helped my children to get back to school and now they are doing well in their studies. I want to say thank you to Mama” .

Miss Yinka Oshuniyi, an Abuja resident also commended the first lady, saying “the skills acquisition programme that I attended in 2023 has helped me to learn a new trade and now I am empowered to take care of myself and my family”

The notable activities of the first lady through her pet project, since her husband resumed office as president in 2023 till date, has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to meeting the needs of the vulnerable.

She has also ensured that gender inequality and education barriers are completely wiped out in the country by giving several educational supports to the needy.

Mrs Tinubu, no doubt, is walking her talk, to play a supportive role in actualising her husband’s Renewed Hope Agenda. (NANFeature)

**If used, please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria

By Oluwafunke Ishola

Africa, and indeed Nigeria is known for its generally youthful population. However, data show that these youths are endangered as the tobacco industry has targeted them for their “predatory” tobacco marketing tactics to create profits, thereby breeding a new wave of addiction.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health challenges the world has ever faced, killing more than eight million people around the world every year.

The 2024 WHO Global Report on Trends reveals that children are using e-cigarettes at rates higher than adults in many countries and globally an estimated 37 million youth aged 13 to 15 years use tobacco.

It revealed that 22 countries in the African region are on track to achieve a 30 per cent reduction in tobacco use by 2025. However, it emphasised that progress has been stifled by rising numbers of young tobacco smokers due to tobacco industry influence.

This year, once again, WHO and public health champions from across the globe have come together leveraging the World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) celebrated annually on May 31, to raise awareness about the harmful influences of the tobacco industry on youth.

The theme for World No Tobacco Day 2024 is “Protecting children from tobacco industry interference”. It emphasises the need to protect future generations and ensure that tobacco consumption continues to reduce.

WHO report titled “Hooking the next generation: how the tobacco industry captures young customers” revealed that the industry works to reach children and youth to replace customers who quit or die.

According to the report, internal tobacco industry documents, dating as far back as the 1970s, show that tobacco companies have long considered children and youth to be “replacement smokers”, “pre-smokers” and a critical market to sustaining their business and the future of their brands.

“The range of products the industry uses to appeal to youth has expanded significantly, from cigarettes, cigarillos and shisha to newer products like e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches.

“Flavoured products and additives, sleek designs and child-friendly packaging and imagery make addictive products even more appealing to youth.

“Companies rapidly launch new products that sidestep, or are not included, in current laws, and use every available means to expand their market share before regulations can catch up with them,” it said.

The health agency revealed that the industry’s tactics include positioning many nicotine products as “safer” than cigarettes, potentially distracting policy-makers and consumers from the fact that nicotine itself is addictive and harmful, particularly to children and youth.

“For example, e-cigarettes with nicotine are highly addictive and are harmful to health. While long-term health effects are not fully understood, it has been established that they generate toxic substances, some of which are known to cause cancer and some that increase the risk of heart and lung disorders.

“Use of e-cigarettes can also affect brain development, potentially leading to learning and anxiety disorders for young people,” it said.

The health agency lamented that the tobacco industry was succeeding in its efforts to create a new generation of young people who smoke, vape, suck nicotine pouches or use snuff. It noted that evidence from around the world shows an alarming uptake by children of some products, such as e-cigarettes.

“History is repeating, as the tobacco industry tries to sell the same nicotine to our children in different packaging. These industries are actively targeting schools, children and young people with new products that are essentially a candy-flavoured trap. How can they talk about harm reduction when they are marketing these dangerous, highly addictive products to children?” Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General queried.

During a virtual World No Tobacco Day webinar with Journalists, Mr Caleb Ayong, Executive Director, Vital Voices for Africa (VVA), Togo, said tobacco infringes upon children’s basic rights to health and welfare, noting that child labour in tobacco production persists in many parts of Africa.

Ayong emphasised that 14 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals would not be achieved with tobacco industry operations, noting that it portends threats to actualisation of universal health coverage, disease prevention, and mental health promotion.

“Tobacco industry targets young people with aggressive marketing, investing billions on the advertisement of its products. It organises parties, concerts, and product placements to specifically lure young and impressionable minds to its products and activities,” he said.

He called for collaboration in shielding children from the clutches of tobacco, empower them with knowledge, and advocate for policies that prioritise their health.

According to him, journalists hold immense power to ignite change, expose industry lies, and inspire action through their reports, urging them to amplify the voices of youths, unmask tobacco industry’s deception, and create a world where every child breathes freely.

Similarly, Philip Jakpor, Executive Director of Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), said the media plays a strategic role in exposing the tactics of the tobacco industry through incisive reports to elicit policy level interventions

“It is the media that must put our governments on their toes to ensure they do not shirk their primary responsibility of protecting our children,” he said.

According to him, the MPOWER package of WHO focuses on six effective measures to reduce demand for tobacco products.

“The W denotes the “Warn about the dangers of tobacco”, which is a role that the media is tasked with carrying out. The media shapes tobacco-related knowledge, opinions and influences individuals and policy-makers.

“For signatories to the WHO–Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC) mass media anti-tobacco campaigns are key components of their tobacco control programmes,” he said.

Corroborating Jakpor, Mr Achieng Otieno, Being Africa, Kenya, explained that the WHO-FCTC was a blueprint for governments to adopt effective tobacco control and assist curb the global tobacco epidemic.

Otieno noted that the goal of the framework was to protect the present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental, and economic consequences of tobacco (and nicotine products) consumption and involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke.

“The FCTC plays a vital role in promoting and protecting children’s rights concerning tobacco control by advocating for policies and measures to prevent tobacco use initiation, reduce exposure to secondhand smoke, provide access to information and education, and safeguard public health policies from industry interference,” Otieno said.

Besides, Mohammed Maikuri of Development Gateway emphasised that the economic burden of smoking, including health expenditures and productivity losses, was estimated at $1.4 trillion annually, with a significant portion of this cost borne by developing countries.

Maikuri said treating diseases caused by tobacco was estimated to have cost Nigeria ₦526.4 billion in 2019, which was nearly one tenth of all healthcare costs in the country.

According to him, Development Gateway, in collaboration with the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health, supported by the Gates Foundation, leads the DaYTA (Data on Youth Tobacco in Africa) programme, focusing on addressing critical data gaps related to adolescent tobacco use in Nigeria.

He said that the initiative aims to gather comprehensive country-level data on tobacco use among young people aged 10 to 17, thereby filling critical evidence gaps and complementing existing data.

Maikuri, however, said that Nigeria’s performance got worse in a 2021 survey showing that the tobacco industry was intensifying its interference in spite of Nigeria’s tobacco control legislation and efforts.

Commenting, Ms Oluchi Robert, Tobacco Control Advocate, noted that WHO report had shown Nigeria, the world’s seventh most populated country, has been recognised by major transnational tobacco companies (TTCs) as a market with enormous income potential due to its large youth population and expanding GDP.

Robert lamented that the tobacco industry in Nigeria, like in many other countries, targets children and youths through various tactics including product marketing, advertising, flavoured products and accessibility.

“Tobacco industry covertly engages in product advertisement through product placements in movies, music videos and use of social media to reach the younger audience.

“According to a 2020 cross-sectional study of school adolescents in Lagos, the most frequently reported channel of exposure was through product placements, with 62 per cent reporting exposure in films, TV, and videos.

“Up to 15.2 per cent and 12.6 per cent were exposed to tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship (TAPS) through promotional activities and sponsorships, respectively,” she said.

She faulted the easy accessibility of tobacco products to children and youths, through stores or online platforms.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), worried by the alarming increase in young and underage access to tobacco products, launched the ‘Don’t Burn Their Future’ campaign.

FCCPC said over 4.5 million Nigerians aged 15 and above are tobacco users, with more than 26,800 annual deaths attributed to tobacco-related diseases.

The Commission emphasised that the campaign was a resolute move to safeguard the health and future of Nigerian youth and to curb the detrimental impact of tobacco products on society.

FCCPC underscores the collective responsibility of individuals, communities, and a prioritised healthcare system in fostering a healthier future for the youth.

Contributing, Dr Tunji Akintade, said there was a fundamental and irreconcilable conflict between the tobacco industry’s interests and public health policy interests.

Akintade urged the government to strengthen its tobacco control policies, improve awareness and educate the public and policymakers about the devastating health and social consequences of tobacco use.

Experts stressed that tobacco industry interference in health policy was a major reason why youth remain unprotected, or not as protected as they should be.

They urged the government to protect current and future generations and hold tobacco and related industries liable for the harm they cause. (NANFeatures)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu