Stakeholders in Ekiti State have advocated concerted public awareness to tackle the menace of smoking tobacco products.
They canvassed this on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti at an Engagement on World No Tobacco Day 2026, organised by the Ekiti State Ministry of Health and Human Services.
The event dissected the health and other hazards of tobacco smoking in society, pointing out that the scenario continues to worsen because of the availability of different tobacco items.
They expressed worries at the increasing rate at which the youths, in particular, irresistibly indulge in the menace to the detriment of their health.
Director, Public Health Services, Dr Abayomi Ibrahim, explained that the Ekiti State government has done a lot to control tobacco smoking and is charting a way forward to eradicate it.
He posited,” the strengthening of enforcement by the different security agencies, mobilisation of religious leaders and traditional rulers, interventions by the various school authorities, among others.”
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Sola Gbenga-Igotun, noted that: “the challenge should be approached from both the health and social perspectives.”
She lamented that “Tobacco, which is packaged in diverse formats and types these days, has continued to destroy the youths”.
Mrs Gbenga-Igotun suggested that the campaign should be spread to churches, mosques and other public environments for the message to sink in with impact. According to her, those she referred to as second-hand smokers are more at risk than the real smokers.
The Permanent Secretary further said the Ekiti State government in 2012 put in place a ‘Smoke-free Law’ that prohibits smoking in public places.
There were contributions and goodwill messages from security agents, religious leaders, traditional rulers, environmental officials, journalists, school representatives and other segments of society.
source: Newtelegraph
