Women journalists urged to lead fight against tobacco use in Nigeria

This initiative aims to highlight the disproportionate impact of tobacco on women and children. During a workshop in Gombe, Comrade Ibrahim Musa-Rafsanjani, Executive Director of CISLAC, emphasized the critical role of women journalists in shaping public opinion and influencing tobacco control policies. Research indicates that tobacco use affects women differently and often more severely than men.

The workshop, supported by Tax Justice Network Africa, trained members of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists NAWOJ in Gombe State on tobacco tax advocacy and gender-responsive reporting. Musa-Rafsanjani stressed that women journalists, as mothers and role models, are strategically positioned to discourage children and young people from starting tobacco use. He also noted that Nigeria's current tobacco taxation rates are insufficient to deter consumption, falling short of ECOWAS recommendations and World Health Organization benchmarks.

Solomon Adoga, CISLAC Programme Manager, explained that the training aimed to deepen journalists' understanding of tobacco-related risks and the gender dimensions of tobacco use, encouraging them to challenge misconceptions and advocate for stronger policies. Abigail Kolo, Chairperson of NAWOJ, Gombe State chapter, and Rebecca Maina, Chairperson of the Media Working Group on