Up to 37 percent of the Nigerian smokers started smoking as children due to the influence of movies that are created, a report has said.
The Creative Director, #SmokeFreeNollywood, Esther Aghotor, disclosed this in a statement she issued in Abuja on Monday.
While quoting the World Health Organisation’s statistics, she said about 370,000 children in Nigeria smoke daily, adding that: “research shows that a significant percentage of current adult smokers were influenced by movies.
“37 percent of these smokers started smoking as children due to the influence of movies that are created,” she said.
She , however, disclosed that high-profile Nollywood celebrities, producers, directors, actresses and actors have expressed their readiness to stop smoking scenes from movies because of its effects on the children.
According to her, the Nollywood artistes’ resolution was part of activities to commemorate the 2021 World tobacco day.
Aghotor said the campaign became imperative to safeguard the morality of the nation’s children.
“Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Dakore Egbuson-Akande, Osas Ighodaro among other Nigerian actors and actresses have pledged to stop the promotion of smoking scenes in movies.
“The celebrities teamed up in the #SmokeFreeNollywood campaign backed by Washington DC-based Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, in collaboration with public strategy firm, Gatefield.
“Other celebrities who joined in the campaign are: Meg Otanwa (Actress), Michelle Dede (Actress), Kayode Kasum (Film Director, Sugar Rush), Daniel Effiong, (Actor), Linda Ejiofor (Actress), Kiki Omeili (Actress), and Imoh Emmanuel Chimezie (Actor) and others,” Aghotor said.
Also, in a short video, Nollywood celebrities said 17,500 Nigerian smokers die yearly and vowed to stop the promotion of smoking scenes in PG rated movies in the country.
