Celebrities pledge to quit smoking scenes in movies
Some Nollywood celebrities have teamed up to denounce the promotion of tobacco products in Nigerian movies targeting children.
They disclosed this in a statement by Esther Aghotor, Creative Director, #SmokeFreeNollywood, a non- governmental organisation, in Abuja on Monday.
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, to mark the 2021 World No Tobacco Day.
“Thirty-seven per cent of these smokers started smoking as children due to the influence of movies that are created,” said the statement.
Celebrities involved in the campaign include; Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Dakore Egbuson-Akande, Osas Ighodaro, Anto Lecky and Meg Otanwa.
Others include Michelle Dede, Kayode Kasum, Daniel Effiong, Linda Ejiofor, Kiki Omeili, and Imoh Emmanuel Chimezie, among others.
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The statement also quoted the World Health Organisation, as saying, that 370,000 children in Nigeria smoke daily.
It noted that research showed that a significant percentage of current adult smokers were influenced by movies.
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