By JKNewsMedia
RECOGNTION OF tobacco control efforts across Africa followed the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s announcement of the World No Tobacco Day 2026 Awards, with the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) and two Nigerian born public health experts named among five African regional winners.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) congratulated the NFVCB, Prof. Olalekan Ayo Yusuf of the School of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH), University of Pretoria, and Prof. Catherine Egbe of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRS) after the WHO unveiled the winners on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
The other African winners are Nare Narcisse Mathurin of Burkina Faso and Louise Mapleh Kpoto of Liberia.
In a statement after the announcement, CAPPA described the recognition as a tribute to years of work advancing tobacco control and public health protection across Africa.
CAPPA Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi said the awards reflected the growing impact of African led efforts to resist tobacco industry influence and protect younger generations from nicotine addiction.
“We warmly congratulate the NFVCB, Professor Catherine Egbe and Professor Olalekan Ayo Yusuf on this well deserved global recognition,” Oluwafemi said.
“Their work has strengthened tobacco control efforts not only in Nigeria but across the African continent. This honour is also a reminder that sustained advocacy, strong regulation and evidence based public health policies can save lives.”
Oluwafemi also commended the NFVCB and its Director General Dr Shaibu Hussein for the 2024 decision to prohibit the promotion and glamorisation of tobacco and nicotine products in Nigerian films, music videos and skits.
“The NFVCB’s Director General Dr Shaibu Hussein showed exemplary leadership and courage by taking a bold stand against the normalisation of smoking in entertainment media,” he said.
“At a time when the tobacco industry increasingly targets young people through popular culture and digital content, this policy sends a powerful message that public health must come before corporate profit.”
On May 21, 2024, the NFVCB announced regulations prohibiting the display, promotion and glamorisation of tobacco, tobacco products and nicotine products in Nollywood productions and related entertainment content.
The regulation, approved by the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy and backed by the NFVCB Act of 1993, aligns with provisions of Nigeria’s National Tobacco Control Act 2015 and the National Tobacco Control Regulations 2019.
CAPPA said Nigeria became the first African country and the second globally after India to introduce such restrictions in entertainment media.
JKNewsMedia.com also reports that the organisation said the move followed years of advocacy under the #SmokeFreeNollywood campaign led by local tobacco control advocates, including CAPPA and the Nigerian Tobacco Control Alliance (NNCA).
The regulation also aligns with guidelines for implementing Article 13 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which addresses tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship in entertainment media.
CAPPA also congratulated global award recipients recognised by the WHO for contributions to tobacco control, including Yemeni Prime Minister Dr Shaya Mohsin Zindani, who received the WHO Director General’s Special Award.
The WHO announced 38 awardees across Africa, the Americas, Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean, South East Asia and the Western Pacific regions.
Oluwafemi urged Nigerian authorities to fully implement existing tobacco control laws and resist interference from the tobacco industry.
“Recognition is important, but the bigger task remains protecting Nigerians, especially young people, from the devastating health and economic consequences of tobacco use,” he said.
“This moment should inspire even stronger commitment to a smoke free future.”
Akinbode added that the WHO annually honours individuals and organisations across its six regions for contributions to tobacco control as part of World No Tobacco Day.
And to celebrate this year’s World No Tobacco Day 2026 marked globally every May 31, WHO says the 2026 theme is “Unmask the appeal countering tobacco and nicotine addiction”, it intent focuses on exposing tactics used by the tobacco and nicotine industry to target young people.
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