Nigeria’s NFVCB Wins WHO Director-General’s Award for Curbing Tobacco Glamorization in Film and TV
The National Film and Video Censors Board, NFVCB, has been honoured with the World Health Organization Director-General’s Special Award for the African Region for its leadership in regulating tobacco and nicotine depictions in entertainment media.
NFVCB was the only Nigerian institution among five winners from Africa announced ahead of World No Tobacco Day. The award, presented by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, recognizes the Board’s work to limit youth exposure to tobacco imagery in films, music videos, skits, and other audiovisual content.
The WHO Director-General’s Awards are given annually to individuals and organizations across WHO’s six regions for outstanding contributions to advancing the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, WHO FCTC
The Board was recognized for its 2024 regulations that ban the promotion and glamorization of tobacco and nicotine products in Nigerian entertainment content.
Under the rules, any necessary depiction of tobacco use must carry health warnings, receive the highest classification rating, and be restricted to viewers aged 18 and above. Producers must also include a disclaimer, disclose any relationship with the tobacco and nicotine industry, and are prohibited from displaying tobacco brands or using product placement.
The policy aligns with Article 13 of the WHO FCTC, which addresses tobacco depiction in entertainment media. With these measures, Nigeria became the first country in Africa and only the second globally to establish comprehensive safeguards against on-screen tobacco glamorization.
Public health research and WHO guidance consistently show that portraying tobacco use in films and videos normalizes smoking and increases the likelihood of uptake among young people. By enforcing clear standards, NFVCB is reducing exposure to pro-tobacco imagery while encouraging socially responsible storytelling in Nigeria’s creative sector.
The award also reflects alignment with the 8-Point Agenda of the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa. The agenda prioritizes stronger policy frameworks, responsible creative content, cultural preservation, and positioning Nigeria as Africa’s creative capital by 2030.
NFVCB Executive Director and CEO Dr. Shaibu Husseini said the award validates the Board’s collaboration with the creative industry to balance artistic expression with public health.
“This award is a validation of the work we have done with the Nigerian creative industry to promote responsible storytelling,” Husseini said. “The goal has never been to censor art, but to ensure that our films do not inadvertently market products that are harmful to public health.”
He reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to protecting children and vulnerable audiences, promoting healthy societal values, and strengthening the positive global influence of Nigeria’s entertainment industry. He thanked the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, filmmakers, producers, and advocacy partners including Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA, the National Tobacco Control Alliance, NTCA, and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, CTFK.
NFVCB said it will continue to tighten enforcement of the regulations, expand public education, and deepen engagement with stakeholders. The Board also plans closer collaboration with WHO, the WHO FCTC Secretariat, and partners to promote responsible entertainment content and safeguard public health.
The move positions Nigeria as a continental leader in regulating tobacco depiction on screen and offers a model for other countries seeking to protect young audiences without stifling creativity.
0 Comments