The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has urged Nollywood filmmakers to stop showing smoking, ritual killings, and money rituals in their films and music videos.
This call was made by Dr. Shaibu Husseini, the Executive Director of NFVCB, at the National Stakeholders’ Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood held in Enugu on Tuesday.
Dr. Husseini praised the efforts of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) for organizing the event, highlighting its significance in promoting healthier content in Nigeria’s creative industry. He emphasized the critical role the film industry plays in entertainment and creativity, stating, “It is imperative that we continue to place the highest premium on the progress of the film industry.”
He addressed the urgency of the situation, saying, “We are facing an industry emergency requiring bold and ambitious actions from all parents, guardians, and stakeholders.” He urged both public and private sector stakeholders to use this platform to create partnerships that will help fund initiatives aimed at educating and sensitizing the public about the dangers of unapproved and harmful content.
Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of CAPPA, also spoke at the event. He stressed the importance of working towards a smoke-free Nollywood, arguing that films and music videos should not portray smoking and tobacco use as glamorous. “We are at a point where we must stop the globalisation of smoking and instead promote a healthy lifestyle,” Oluwafemi said.
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He pointed out that despite existing regulations, smoking is still commonly depicted in Nigerian films. “Studies have shown that smoking remains prevalent in Nigerian movies in contravention of the NTC-Act and the Tobacco Control Regulations 2019, which explicitly prohibit tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorships in movies and entertainment,” Oluwafemi stated.
Oluwafemi commended Dr. Husseini for his proactive approach, adding, “There is a need to reverse the role movies and music videos play in painting smoking and tobacco use as a cool way of life.”
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