Experts Raise Alarm as Tobacco Industry Targets Youth, Call for Stronger Enforcement of Global Control Laws
Tobacco control advocates have raised fresh concerns over the growing influence of the tobacco industry on young people, warning that increasingly sophisticated and misleading narratives are driving addiction among youths and children across Africa.
Speaking at a capacity-building training in Lagos, Oluwafemi stressed the urgent need for stakeholders to stay ahead of the industry’s evolving tactics through continuous monitoring and information sharing.
“It is necessary to ensure that advocates are consistently updated on how the industry continues to spread misleading narratives that get our youths and children addicted, and how government should enforce the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) alongside relevant national laws,” he said.
Participants at the African Tobacco Industry Monitoring (ATIM) training commended the initiative for delivering a highly impactful and practical learning experience.
Jackline Mbone Juma, a youth tobacco control advocate with the Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance and Health Promotion, described the programme as both insightful and empowering.
“We are here in Lagos, Nigeria, participating in the ATIM course and, so far, the training has been excellent,” she said.
“We’ve gained hands-on skills on how to conduct industry monitoring, carry out research, and access tobacco industry documents. More importantly, we now have a deeper understanding of the WHO FCTC and its implications for public health.”
Also speaking, Emmanuel Onwuka, a journalist and Communications Officer at the Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA), highlighted the urgency of the training amid the rise of new tobacco products and aggressive marketing strategies aimed at young people.
“The ATIM Building Capacity in Industry Monitoring for Effective Tobacco Control Advocacy in Africa (BETA 3.0) training has come at a crucial time,” Onwuka noted.
“The tobacco industry is constantly evolving, developing new tactics and increasingly targeting young people. Through this training, I am gaining valuable insights into tobacco use trends and the industry’s agenda across Africa. By the end of the programme, I will be better equipped to monitor, document, and report on tobacco industry interference effectively.”
ATIM, based at the University of Pretoria, is a specialised African centre focused on tobacco industry monitoring, intelligence, and policy research. The organisation plays a critical role in tracking industry activities and interference across the continent while supporting research, policy protection, and capacity building in line with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
The Tobacco Industry Monitoring (TIM) course, delivered in both English and French, is open to advocates, researchers, academics, journalists, and government policymakers across Africa, strengthening efforts to counter tobacco industry influence and safeguard public health.
