Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has launched the #smokefreenollywood campaign which aims at ending the use of tobacco in Nollywood movies.
Speaking at the media launch, Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director, CAPPA, explained that it is imperative that Nollywood movies stop promoting the use of tobacco, because young persons can be exposed to it.
According to him, “tobacco use, as we know, is a leading cause of preventable death in the world and a risk factor for several non-communicable diseases including cancers, cardiovascular ailments, diabetes mellitus, and chronic respiratory sicknesses.
“Through movies and music videos it has continued to entice and addict young persons. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) which Nigeria is signatory to, and has ratified, requires parties to implement a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship,” he added.
CAPPA’s ED stressed that, the guidelines for implementation of Article 13 of the WHO-FCTC includes a statement that the depiction of tobacco use in films is a form of promotion that influences tobacco use, particularly by young people, and include specific measures.”
He thereafter recommended Adult Rating for Films with Smoking Scenes explaining that, “the WHO says the most effective way of protecting children and adolescents from becoming addicted to tobacco is to give an adult rating to movies that contain smoking.
“One such intervention would be the assignment of an R rating to any movie with smoking or other tobacco-use imagery (unless the portrayal is of actual historical figures who smoked, a documentary, or if the portrayal includes the negative effects of tobacco use).
Mr. Akinbode also stressed that Nollywood movies with smoking scenes should have Strong Anti-Smoking Adverts and anti-smoking health warnings.
“A requirement on strong anti-smoking advertisements shown before the start of films, TV or online programs containing tobacco products and smoking scenes should be required to carry a rolling banner of text health warning.
“There should neither be tobacco brand identification or the presence of tobacco brand imagery (such as billboards, umbrellas, cars etc.) in the background of any movie scene,” he added.
The media launch also witnessed the unveiling of a music video on ‘No To smoking’ a video produced by Efemena Okugbeni (known as Reflex) and Yinka Adeogun (with the stage name Zadok).
The two artists were winners of CAPPA’s tobacco rap challenge in 2019.
A gospel music artist, Lanre Teriba, popularly known as Atorise was present at the event to join the call on ending smoking in movies.