From Sylvia Udegbunam Enugu

The National Film and Video Censor Board (NFVCB) in colloboration with Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) have called on NOLLYWOOD to curtail display of Smoking in Nigeria Movies.

This call was made during a one day stakeholders engagement workshop organised by NFVCB and CAPPA at Nike Lake Resort Hotel Enugu on Tuesday with theme “Smoke Free Nollywood initiatives”.

The Executive Director of NFVCB, Dr Shaibu Husseini in his speech emphasized that the film industry occupies a central position in the entertainment and creative sector, therefore, there is need to ensure that films, video works, musical videos and skits are free of depiction and glamorization of harmful substances like smoking of tobacco, violence, criminal act, immoral act, ritual killings and money rituals.

He noted that movies and entertainment materials are veritable tools for transfer of ideas and promotion of alternative lifestyles. Therefore youths are initiated into using tobacco products through advertising and subliminal promotion of smoking scenes in movies, music videos and product placement.

According to him “The more frequently youths see smoking on screens, the more likely they are to start smoking”. He admonished them to create content that discourages smoking and promote positive health messages.

He further emphasized that the board is working towards establishing industry guidelines and best practices for the depiction of smoking in films, pointing that Minister of Arts and Culture and the creative economy, Barr Hannatu Musa Musawa, in pursuant to S; 65 of the NFVCB act 2004 has approved the prohibition of money rituals, ritual killing, tobacco products, nicotine product promotion, glamorization display in movies, musical videos and skits.

The Commissioner for culture and tourism Enugu State Dame Ugochi Madueke in her address, emphasized that Nigerian films are the reflection of our culture, values and aspirations which yield an incredible influence over public perception and behavior. 

She lamented that glamorization of tobacco use in our screen is a trend we cannot afford to ignore especially the devastating consequences associated with smoking. She called on the professional script writers, film producers, film directors and actors to colloborate and show commitment to depict healthier lifestyles on screens.

Creating and engaging powerful stories that do not rely on smoking as a character trait, create stories that protect our youths, promote public health and pave way for a healthier future.

She further called on government, regulatory bodies, legislative arms, ministry of health, media to play a crucial role by advocating for policies that restrict tobacco portrayal in films and implement clear regulations that guides our film makers towards creating contents that is free from smoking scenes.

The Executive Director of CAPPA Akinbode Oluwafemi, in his welcome address tagged “Let Keep Our Screen healthy” lamented that smoking remains prevalent in Nigerian movies in contravention of the NTC- Act and the Tobacco Control Regulations 2019 which explicitly prohibits tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship in movies and entertainment.

He noted that in shaping our future and building a Soceity that is genuinely productive in Nigeria, Nollywood has a role to play in ensuring that the growing concerns of non communicable disease in the country is addressed. “There is need to reverse the role movies and music videos play that paint smoking and tobacco use as a cool way of life. We are at a point we must stop the glamorization of smoking and instead promote healthy lifestyles” he said.

An Actor, Segun Arinze in his reaction commended the organizers for the engagement workshop and assured them that he will create a content in his skit to advocate for smoke free in our screen. 

Association of film producers in their reactions assured the organizers that they will always project a warning that tell people that smokers are liable to die Young in their films.