Omotola, Dakore, Others Pledge To Stop Smoking Scenes In Movies

High profile Nollywood celebrities – producers, directors, actresses and actors- have teamed up and pledged to stop smoking scenes from movies because of its effects on children.

Also, a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that 370,000 children in Nigeria smoke cigarettes daily.

According to a statement by the Creative Director of SmokeFreeNollywood, Ms. Esther Aghotor, the celebrities joined forces with the SmokeFreeNollywood campaign backed by Washington DC based Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids in collaboration with public strategy firm, Gatefield, in celebration of the World No Tobacco Day 2021.

Celebrities involved in the campaign include Omotola Jalade Ekeinde Actress and TIME 100 Most influential persons in the world), Dakore Egbuson-Akande Osas Ighodaro (Actress, Oxfam and Amnesty International Ambassador), Anto Lecky (Actress and Big Brother Nigeria Star), 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.

According to WHO, 370,000 children in Nigeria smoke daily.

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,” the celebrities said in the PSA where the celebrities took responsibility and pledged to make amends.