Tobacco & You

Hilda Dokubo about smoking in Nollywood: “Smoking in Movies is Bad”, says popular actress

The movie industry worldwide remains a powerful tool in the crafty hands of the tobacco multinationals. Smoking on set is portrayed as ‘cool’ and as the habit of the successful, the smart and movie heroes and heroines thus ensnaring viewers, especially impressionistic youngsters. The Nigerian booming movie industry christened Nollywood, is no less a culprit. Hilda Dokubo , popular screen diva, speaks on this menace, and as a youth mentor, she advises against it. LISTEN 

Pr Pat Utomi: “Tobacco Kills the Economy!”

The smoking habit hurts not only the person but also the economy. In this edition, Betty speaks to a very important personality:Professor Pat Utomi, frontline Nigerian economist, author, public commentator, TV host and former presidential aspirant. It is incisive, it is instructive. He tells youngsters, “Smoking is not for the REAL MAN”. LISTEN

The New Face of TOBACCO AND YOU: ERA Repackages, Expands Tobacco and You Radio Program)

Tobacco and You, the radio magazine program which seeks to acquaint listeners with information on the dangers of tobacco use, is being given a new look and reach by its producers.

Douglas Bettcher: Tobacco, WHO & FCTC, “We are Winning the War” 1

Betty’s guest is Douglas Bettcher , one of the biggest names in global tobacco control. He is the Director of the World Health Organisation’s Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI). In this edition, he shares his vast knowledge of tobacco control, especially as it relates to Africa. LISTEN

Yussuf Saloojee: The quest for Tobacco Free Africa - Part 2

In this concluding interview, Dr Saloojee speaks about policies that work to reduce tobacco consumption and urges African governments to expedite actions to implement provisions of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.  LISTEN

Yussuf Saloojee: The quest for Tobacco Free Africa - Part1

Betty’s guest in this edition is Dr Yussuf Salojee, Executive Director of the National Council Against Smoking in South Africa.
He is a public health advocate, whose work includes lobbying for tobacco control legislation, conducting research and engaging in public health education. Here he touches on current tobacco control issues on the continent and why he thinks all hope is not lost in the battle to check the smoking disaster on an already ravaged continent.   LISTEN

Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka and other prominent voices against tobacco

This edition features short interviews with prominent Nigerians on the issue of smoking and tobacco control. The edition is rich, insightful, humorous, and most instructive. You will hear the voices of Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, a very prominent journalist, a Federal Minister, a popular American diplomat among others. It verily is a compelling compilation of prominent voices united against tobacco. It is a must-listen. LISTEN

Felicita Olajide: Why Abuja Went Smoke-Free

On May 30^th 2008, Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital City went smoke-free. It was the first city in the country to take that giant step towards safe-guarding public health, and following in the direction of a global trend. In this edition, Betty speaks with Mrs Felicita Olajide, chairperson of the FCT committee on the ban of public smoking, on the action, its implication and how government hopes to effect the ban. Mrs Olajide explains why the city authorities took the bold step and plan to enforce the policy. LISTEN

Cigarette Tainted my Relationships, interview with journalist Alex Akao

Alex Akao, a journalist, speaks on his several years of tobacco addiction and the toll it took on his relationships. In a humorous, yet gripping recollection, he narrates how his present wife, then a girl friend, helped him quit in a most subtle way.
LISTEN

Youth Smoking: “Big Tobacco, Hands Off Our Youths!”

Betty’s guests in this edition are two young, enthusiastic tobacco control activists. Adeola Akinrenmi and Seun Akioye, both in their 20’s, have been involved in tobacco control activities among young Nigerians in the last seven years. They co-founded Journalists Action on Tobacco and Health (JATH). Both spoke on the ploy by tobacco multinationals to recruit young smokers, and advise fellow youngsters on the way out.
LISTEN

“Women, Thou Must Not Smoke”, interview with gynaecologist, Dr. Uduak Ikpegbu

What health risks do women smokers face? Dr. Uduak Ikpegbu, a gynaecologist and child care expert answers. The young doctor and mother, stresses that besides the tendency for women smokers to suffer from infertility, children of such women suffer low births, withdrawal symptoms and other health implications. ‘Smoking does no woman any good,” .
LISTEN

Why We are Battling Big Tobacco: interview with attorney Tunde Irukera, Part 2

The interview with Barrister Irukera continues. He takes the listeners on a tour of the legal process, and progress, what Nigerians should expect, and why the war, like in the West, is destined to be a success. LISTEN

Why We are Battling Big Tobacco: interview with attorney Tunde Irukera

Betty’s guest on this compelling edition is Tunde Irukera of the Simons Coopers law firm, and one of the leading lawyers in the litigations against tobacco multinationals in Nigeria. Irukera who so passionate about his historic ‘warfare’ , explains why he is in it.
LISTEN

Happy New Year: Please don't smoke!

In this new year edition, Betty reflects on the success recorded in the last year when “Tobacco and You’ commenced, as evidenced by responses to the program, and admonishes smokers on why they should make quitting smoking part of the famous New Year Resolution.
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Mr. Charles Odenigbo: How I quit

Betty’s guest is Mr. Charles Odenigbo. He is the AGM, corporate affairs and business development of TELL Communications Limited in Lagos, Nigeria. He is also a public relations practitioner, motivational speaker and pastor. Mr. Odenigbo was a chain smoker who smoked for more than 10 days before he finally found the courage to quit. In this compelling interview, he talks about his ordeal, how the habit affected his finance, cut short his promising sporting career among other costs. He also advises active and intending smokers on the need to desist from the act of self destruction which is tobacco smoking. LISTEN

Dr. Atim Eneida George: tobacco addiction (part 2)

In the second part of this interview, Betty’s guest, Chief/Dr. Atim Eneida George, a much-loved American diplomat who holds the Nigerian traditional title of yeye Araba of Ife, concludes her story on the unsavoury impact of smoking, and reveals how she eventually quit after several failed attempts. Eighteen years after quitting, she declares she doesn’t miss cigarette. Mrs. George also provides hints on quitting to smokers. Professor Levi Zangi, her husband, a Liberian academic, who was at the show, revealed how he coped with her during her smoking days, and advises spouses on how to help smoking partners quit. LISTEN

Dr. Atim Eneida George: tobacco addiction (part 1)

Betty’s guest is Chief/Dr. Atim Eneida George, the counselor for public affairs section at the American Embassy in Nigeria. In this rare interview, Mrs. George talks about her tobacco addiction which lasted for several years. This humorous, lively and captivating interview provides an insight into the social, economic and physiological costs of tobacco addiction for the average smoker. LISTEN

Dr. Mike Anibueze, Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health

Betty’s guest is Dr. Mike Anibueze, the national coordinator of non-communicable diseases at the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health and the country’s focal person on tobacco control. He spoke on Nigeria’s tobacco control laws, efforts at implementing the Frame Work Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the fallacies of tobacco manufacturers, the law on smoking in public places, and how the government intends to tighten the noose on the tobacco industry. LISTEN

Mr. Leke Adeneye: the power of tobacco addiction (2) and how to quit

In the second part of his interview, Mr. Leke Adeneye concludes the story of his deadly love affair with cigarette which spanned over a decade. He reveals how it affected every aspect of his life and as he confesses for the first time, ultimately ruined his academics. He recalls his several struggles towards quitting and how he eventually quit. He also offers advice to smokers on quitting smoking. LISTEN

Mr Leke Adeneye: the power of tobacco addiction (1)

Betty welcomes Mr.Leke Adeneye, a journalist and pastor, and former cigarette addict. In this no-hold barred interview, he speaks about his addiction with the killer stick for over a decade. The level of self degradation and at times trauma he had to go through to sustain the deadly habit is simply mind-boggling. LISTEN

Tobacco Kills You Slowly, But Surely! It's the Medical Truth!(2)

This edition is the concluding part of Dr. Olarenwaju Onigbogi’s talk on the deadly health implications that accrues from tobacco, as he said ‘whether smoked, chewed or snuffed’. This, unknown to many, also includes infertility.
LISTEN

Tobacco is a killer, listen to Tobacco & You

Here is our promotional message.
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Tobacco Damages Kills You Slowly, but Surely! It's the Medical Truth!(1)

Dr. Olarenwaju Onigbogi speaks with Betty about the various health implications of tobacco smoking.
He is a doctor at the department of Community Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, South-Western Nigeria. He is also the national coordinator of Doctors Against Tobacco Nigeria (DATN). LISTEN

Tobacco and the Media: It's now time to tell the truth

Betty's guest to talk about tobacco and the media is Lagos based journalist Olayinka Oyegbile
LISTEN

How much choice does a smoker have?

Betty's guest is Mr Lanre Oginni, Executive Director of the All-Nigerian Consumer Movements' Union (ANCOMU). He explains the marketing strategy of the tobacco companies and wishes they would leave Nigeria. He regrets the weakness of the present laws and pleads for the full implementation of the FCTC Treaty.
LISTEN (8 min)

Why Tobacco and You?

For the maiden edition of Tobacco and You, Betty's guest is Akinbode Oluwafemi. He talks about the situation of tobacco control in Nigeria, the need for more information (like Tobacco and You) and more regulation. LISTEN (11 min)

Tobacco Control Goes on Air

Tobacco control campaign has entered a new phase in Nigeria with the weekly broadcast of Tobacco and You, a 15-minutes magazine programme designed to educate Nigerian about the dangers of tobacco use as well as mobilize support for effective implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) by the Nigerian government.

The magazine programme being sponsored by Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria, (ERA/FoEN) in collaboration with the Nigerian Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) comes on air at 12.15 every Tuesday simultaneously on Metro FM 97.6 ( Lagos operations), Kapital FM 92.7 (Abuja national station), and Pyramid FM 193.5 (Kano).

About Betty Abah

Betty Abah, 33, has worked as a journalist since she was at the University of Calabar. She has contributed to various magazines  in Lagos (TELL, NEWSWATCH, THE VOICE) and has been a recipient of numerous professional fellowships including the Alfred Friendly Press Fellowship.

About ERA, Environmental Rigths Action - Friends Of the Earth Nigeria

Environmental Rights Action (ERA) is a Nigerian advocacy non-governmental organisation founded on January 11, 1993 to deal with environmental human rights issues in Nigeria. ERA is the Nigerian chapter of Friends of the Earth International (FoEI), the world environmental justice federation campaigning to protect the environment and to create sustainable societies.

Putting Out the Evil Flame

Excerpts of the speech given by Betty at the launch of “Tobacco and You”  October 9, 2007

My dear ladies and gentlemen of the press,

I must say I’m very delighted to be saddled with the responsibility toCompose Post be presenter of Tobacco and You, a radio programme produced by the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria in collaboration with the Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA).

It will feature interviews with medical experts, tobacco control activists, government personnel, and interestingly, former cigarette addicts, among others, to highlight the dangers of tobacco smoking.

All our shows and our guests

10. December 18:
9. December 11: Dr. Atim Eneida George: tobacco addiction (part 1)
8. December 4: Dr. Mike Anibueze, Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health
7. November 27: Mr. Leke Adeneye: the power of tobacco addiction (2) and how to quit
6. November 20: Mr Leke Adeneye: the power of tobacco addiction (1)
5. November 13: Tobacco kills you slowly but surely (2):Dr. Olarenwaju Onigbogi
4. November 6: Tobacco kills you slowly but surely (1): Dr. Olarenwaju Onigbogi
3. October 30: Tobacco and the media with Olaynka Oyegbile
2. October 23: Lanre Oginni
1. October 16: Akinbode Oluwafemi   

Our email and our toll-free number

You can contact us via email at: tobaccoandyou@gmail.com

You can call us at 08 03 123 0 222