Nigeria has taken the lead in a regional anti-tobacco school debate and advocacy programme in commemoration of World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) 2026, with participation expanding beyond its borders to include students from Sierra Leone and Uganda.
Expanding Reach Across West Africa
As the initiative broadens its reach across West Africa, stakeholders have simultaneously called for intensified youth-led policy action to counter the increasingly sophisticated tactics employed by the tobacco and nicotine industry to attract and addict young people.
The call was made at a press briefing organised by the Nigerian Heart Foundation (NHF) in partnership with the United Nations Association (UNA) of Nigeria and other stakeholders at the NHF office in Ikoyi, Lagos, as part of activities marking this year’s World No Tobacco Day.
Stakeholders Demand Stronger Measures
The President of the United Nations Association of Nigeria, Prof. Oluremi Olutimo, at the conference, said the 2026 WNTD campaign, themed “unmasking the Appeal: Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction,” is in alignment with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) global observance. He noted that while global tobacco use has declined in recent years, the industry has adapted by introducing new products such as e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, heated tobacco products, shisha, and synthetic nicotine devices, which are often marketed as safer alternatives but continue to sustain addiction.
Olutimo warned that these emerging products are increasingly being directed at adolescents and young adults, with global data indicating millions of teenagers already using tobacco and nicotine-related products. He also highlighted the role of parents and caregivers, stressing that early exposure, peer influence, and limited supervision continue to drive addiction among adolescents and called for practical enforcement measures, strengthened penalties for violations, and stronger cessation and rehabilitation support systems for individuals seeking to quit nicotine addiction.
Call for Youth-Led Policy Action
The stakeholders emphasised the need for a coordinated response to protect young people from the tobacco industry's marketing strategies. They urged governments to implement and enforce policies that restrict the sale and promotion of nicotine products to minors, and to invest in education and cessation programmes tailored to youth.
The event underscored Nigeria's commitment to leading the fight against tobacco use in the region, with the hope that the expanded debate programme will empower young people to become advocates for change in their communities.
