The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (Cislac) trained women journalists on tobacco taxation and gender mainstreaming, with a focus on the dangers of shisha and cigarette consumption.
The objectives of the training is to equip women journalists with the knowledge and skills to effectively report on tobacco control issues, particularly the risks associated with shisha use and the importance of tobacco taxation.
While delivering her opening remarks, the Chairperson of the Nigeria Union of Women Journalists, Kano State Chapter, Bahijja Malam Kabara, expressed gratitude to the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) for involving women journalists in the training on tobacco control and advocacy.
Adding by assuring that the women journalists would work diligently to sensitize the general public about the dangers associated with tobacco use, which is a leading cause of preventable deaths worldwide.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco use is responsible for over 7 million deaths annually, with Nigeria being one of the countries with the highest number of tobacco-related deaths in Africa.
Bahijja Malam Kabara emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the risks of tobacco use, particularly among women and children, who are often disproportionately affected by the negative consequences of tobacco consumption.
In his welcoming Addressed The executive director CISLAC Mr Auwal Musa Rafsan-Jani He said the programme was designed to help participants understand the effects of tobacco use and the importance of advocating for stronger tobacco control policies.
He emphasised the critical role of NAWOJ in creating awareness by amplifying their voices to demand inclusivity in tax policies in Nigeria.
Musa-Rafsanjani noted that over the years, CISLAC had been implementing a project on tobacco tax advocacy in Nigeria, adding that the partnership with NAWOJ would yield more positive results.
“Tobacco consumption is rampant among the youths, irrespective of gender, hard drugs and other dangerous substances are mixed with other dangerous items and consumed on daily basis.
“We believe the partnership with women journalists will pave way for more awareness of the menace of tobacco smoking,”he said
He called on parents and guardians to monitor their children and wards to prevent the use of shisha and other tobacco products.
Cislac’s training program emphasized the importance of tobacco taxation as a key strategy for reducing tobacco consumption. By increasing the price of tobacco products, governments can discourage people from smoking and reduce the prevalence of tobacco-related illnesses.
Consultant Solomon Adoga highlighted that women are disproportionately affected by tobacco-induced diseases, such as breast and cervical cancer, as well as maternal exposures.
Adoga emphasized the need for gender integration into tobacco tax policy formulation and implementation, citing research that shows an increasing threat posed by tobacco consumption to the health of girls and women in low- and middle-income countries.
Another consultant while making presentation the from CISLAC said spending one hour in a shisha cafe is equivalent to smoking five packs of cigarettes. This alarming reality highlights the need for urgent action to address the growing trend of shisha consumption among youth and women. stressed that smoking is influenced by a combination of personal, social, economic, and environmental factors, requiring multilayered and effective interventions.
The training also highlighted the growing concern of shisha use, particularly among young people, and its associated health risks, including respiratory problems and nicotine addiction.
The training, which take place in R and K hotel Kano which brought together women journalists from various Media station across Kano State,By engaging women journalists in this effort, CISLAC hopes to amplify the voices of those advocating for tobacco control and promote a healthier, tobacco-free society.