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Mental Health: Youth Ministry Seeks Collaboration Toward Tobacco-Free Society

Published

3 years ago

October 27, 2023

Minister of Youth Development Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim listening to the Regional Director, of the Tobacco Control Program (AFRO) Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids CTFK Bintou Camara, during a courtesy visit on Friday in Abuja.

Joel Ajayi

In its effort to tame the harmful impact of tobacco smoking that poses a serious threat to human beings and the environment, especially among the Nigerian youth, the Ministry of Youth Ministry is keen to support sensitizing and creating public awareness on the implications of tobacco smoking.

While speaking in Abuja on Friday when she played host to the Regional Director, of the Tobacco Control Program (AFRO) Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids CTFK Bintou Camara in her office, the Minister of Youth Development Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim said that the issue of tobacco smoking has become a challenge to the nation and there is need for partnership to sensitize many Nigerians, especially the youth on the danger of it.

She expressed that the implication of this menace is huge as it always leads to lung cancer and untimely death.

According to her, Adolescent health is an area that we hope to focus on as a ministry and as a government in this administration, adolescence is easily influenced so, we must be proactive in putting mechanisms in place to nail most of the adolescent challenges

“Today, Tobacco smoking among small kids has become one of our challenges and we understand that we must build a partnership and collaboration for awareness advocacy and to let tobacco companies understand the impact of this product on young people.

“Yes we have a National Tobacco Act that bans smoking in public and workplaces, we must understand that where one person’s right stop remains where the starting point for another person’s right.”

She, however, pledged that the Ministry under her watch will leave no stone unturned to ensure wider engagement of all stakeholders and get the best approach for better action.

Earlier in her remarks, the Regional Program and Director of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Bintou Camara said tobacco is a gateway to other drugs and there is a need to nail it in the bud.

“We are facing an enemy that others don’t face and that enemy is tobacco smoking which is now the order of the day among the youth and kids

“We understand that Nigeria has a larger number of youth that is why we are here to seek your support in raising more awareness and educating people on the serious implications in order to have a healthy country of our desire.” She said

However, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is a leading force organization in the fight to reduce tobacco use and its deadly toll in Nigeria.

CTFK works in over 60 countries in the world to advocate for public policies to prevent kids from smoking, help smokers quit, and protect everyone from secondhand smoke.

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AWESSA 2026: Customs Assures Border Cooperation for Women Entrepreneurs

Published

7 hours ago

October 25, 2026

The Gleamer

By James Samuel, Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service has said the nation’s borders must become gateways of opportunity for African women entrepreneurs, not obstacles that kill their businesses.

This was disclosed at the African Women’s Economic Sovereignty Summit and Awards (AWESSA) 2026 held at the Customs House, corporate headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service in Abuja.

Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, his representative, an Assistant Controller, said hosting the summit inside Customs premises was deliberate.

“That this summit holds within the Customs premises is no accident. It is a statement of intent,” he said.

“The border is where the promise of every African trader either comes alive or dies quietly. And the men and women of this Service have resolved that for every woman entrepreneur of this continent, that promise will never die.”

He said women account for an estimated 70% of informal cross-border trade in Africa and over half of agricultural labour, yet they face documentation, standards, finance and harassment challenges.

“Too often she meets the border as an obstacle rather than a gateway. Because she trades in small volumes, in cash, in informality without formal papers, capable business women are now trapped in informality, invisible to trade statistics,” he noted.

He added: “AfCFTA will not be delivered by treaties alone. It will be delivered at border posts, in conference halls, and in market stores.”

Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, represented by a Director, said women are central to Nigeria’s non-oil export sector.

According to her, NEPC’s focus is now on building export- ready competitive enterprises through programmes like the Women in Export Initiative, Export Clinic, and Zero to Export.

“Our focus is no longer on encouraging exports alone, it is on building competitive export-ready enterprises. We are supporting women to move beyond production into value addition, quality assurance, standard compliance, branding and market positioning,” she said.

She said AfCFTA offers a market of over one billion people, but women need knowledge, certifications and institutional support.

“Empowering women economically is one of the most effective tools for achieving poverty reduction, food security, job creation and inclusive growth,” she stated.

The Convener, Helen Okon, who is the Publisher of Business Review Africa & Africa Today Magazine, as well as representatives of NAFDAC DG and NEXIM Bank MD, reaffirmed commitment to supporting women-owned businesses access standards, certification and finance.

The summit, with the theme of positioning women as drivers of trade and sustainable development, is part of activities marking the International Year of the Women Farmer.

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