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By Ajiri Daniels
Gloria’s Cancer Foundation has unveiled “SMOKING NO BE FLEX,” a nationwide anti-smoking awareness programme targeted at adolescents and young people, as part of efforts to curb the rising trend of tobacco use among Nigerian youths.
The initiative, officially launched this week, is designed to educate young people on the health dangers of smoking and nicotine addiction while promoting smoke-free lifestyles across communities in Nigeria.
Tobacco smoking remains a major public health challenge globally and within Nigeria. While overall adult smoking rates in the country are relatively lower than in many other nations, recent studies have revealed worrying patterns among adolescents. In some Nigerian settings, nearly one in five school-going adolescents currently uses tobacco products, including cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, with higher prevalence reported among boys and in certain communities.
A systematic review of studies conducted in Nigeria further underscores the urgency of the problem, indicating that youth smoking prevalence varies widely, with some research recording rates as high as 32.5 per cent among young people.
Speaking on the rationale behind the initiative, the founder of Gloria’s Cancer Foundation, Gloria Chinyere Okwu, said the programme was developed in line with global best practices in tobacco control.
“The SMOKING NO BE FLEX programme aims to reduce the incidence of smoking among adolescents and young people in Nigeria, in line with World Health Organization recommendations and evidence-based tobacco control strategies,” Okwu stated.
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She noted that the initiative aligns with the WHO’s MPOWER framework, which advocates comprehensive tobacco control measures such as monitoring tobacco use, protecting people from second-hand smoke, offering cessation support, warning about the dangers of tobacco, enforcing bans on advertising and promotion, and increasing taxes on tobacco products to prevent initiation, particularly among youth.
Health experts have consistently identified adolescence as a critical stage for tobacco prevention, as most smokers begin the habit at a young age. In Nigeria, surveys show that up to 20 per cent of adolescents report current tobacco use, with many experimenting with their first tobacco product before the age of ten, increasing the likelihood of long-term addiction and tobacco-related diseases.
The Foundation also highlighted that the burden of tobacco use is disproportionately higher in low- and middle-income countries, where about 80 per cent of the world’s tobacco users reside. Weak enforcement of tobacco control policies and limited access to prevention and cessation services continue to fuel the problem in these regions, unlike in many high-income countries where stronger regulations and sustained public education have led to significant declines in smoking rates.
As part of its implementation strategy, the SMOKING NO BE FLEX programme will roll out a series of youth-focused activities, including school-based educational sessions, theatre and creative engagement platforms, community outreach and media campaigns, and support resources for teenagers seeking to resist tobacco use and adopt healthier lifestyles.
The Foundation has called on parents, educators, community leaders, policymakers and young people to actively support the initiative.
“Together, we can empower a generation to understand that smoking is not a ‘flex’ but a harmful habit with serious long-term consequences,” the Foundation said in a statement.
Gloria’s Cancer Foundation also invited individuals and organisations interested in partnering with the initiative to reach out via [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) or 08101275098 for further information.
