Mothers in Kwara State have campaigned to demand for stronger tobacco control policies aimed at protecting children from the effects of tobacco exposure, particularly lung cancer.
The campaign, on Saturday, February 15, 2025, in Ilorin, the state capital, was part of the activities organised to commemorate the World Cancer Day, themed: “United by Unique”, with subtheme: “Mothers Voices Against Tobacco in Our Children”.
The campaign was organised by Bundies Care Support Initiative in collaboration with Protecting and Activating Communities against Tobacco.
February is Cancer Prevention Awareness month, while World Cancer Day is celebrated annually on Feb. 4, to sensitise people and promote cancer awareness.
The Executive Director of the initiative, Mrs Funmilayo Osiegbu, said Kwara mothers were concerned about the harmful effects of tobacco on their children.
“We are urging the government to enact policies that shield young people from tobacco industry influence.
“In Nigeria, tobacco use remains a significant public health challenge, with increasing exposure to second hand smoke posing risks to children and families.
“The Kwara march amplifies the call for full implementation of Nigeria’s National Tobacco Control Act.
“This includes stricter enforcement of ban on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, as well as stronger measures to prevent youth access to tobacco products,” she said.
Osiegbu explained that the campaign was inspired by similar initiatives worldwide, such as the impactful advocacy efforts of Tobacco-Free Jordan.
“Tobacco-Free Jordan is an anti-smoking cmpaign where the mothers successfully campaigned for stronger regulations to prevent tobacco marketing to children.
“Nigerian mothers are also uniting to demand similar urgent action, because we cannot stand by while our children are exposed to harmful tobacco products.
“We are calling on our government to prioritise public health over the interests of the tobacco industry,” she said.
Also, the Kwara Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Afolashade Opeyemi, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to safeguarding the health of all citizens.
Opeyemi, represented by Mrs Ramat Akanni, Director of Personnel, Finance, and Supply at the ministry, stated that the administration had zero tolerance for smoking any substance, including shisha, cigarettes, and other tobacco products.
She commended Kwara mothers for the initiative and expressed the state government’s support in protecting young people from smoking harmful substances.
In his remarks, Prof. Abiodun Afolayan, Chairman, Nigeria Cancer Society, Kwara Chapter, stated that research had shown that lung cancer was the most common cancer worldwide due to smoking.
Afolayan, also the Provost, College of Health Sciences of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, explained that smokers were liable to develop lung cancer in the future.
According to him, the effects of smoking does not appear early but manifests later, often when it is too late, leading to death.
Similarly, Mr Lekan Mikail, Special Adviser on Drug Abuse to the Kwara Governor, noted that the initiative complemented the state government’s efforts in tackling the menace.
He urged parents in the state to be more vigilant in caring and protecting their children from drug abuse and smoking, describing them as harmful.
The Iyaloja of Yoruba-Road Market, Hajia Mulikat Ajide, also appealed to traders and market women to warn their children against smoking substance and abusing drugs.
Some of the participants of the campaign include the Women Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN), Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) and Kwara Ministry of Health.
By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal