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| Image: Zikoko |
In a significant move to safeguard public health and promote responsible content, the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has issued a strong call to stakeholders in the Nollywood industry to eliminate the depiction and glamorization of harmful substances and activities in films and music videos. The directive, given on Tuesday by the Executive Director of NFVCB, Dr. Shaibu Husseini, was announced during the National Stakeholders’ Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood held in Enugu.
Dr. Husseini commended the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) for organizing the event, emphasizing its importance as part of CAPPA's corporate social responsibility in Nigeria’s creative industry. He highlighted the crucial role that the film industry plays in the entertainment and creative sectors, underscoring the necessity of maintaining high standards to ensure the sector's progress.
“The film industry occupies a central position in the entertainment and creative sector, and it is imperative that we continue to place the highest premium on its progress,” Dr. Husseini stated. He stressed the urgency of the situation, referring to it as an "industry emergency" that requires bold and ambitious actions from all involved, including parents, guardians, and stakeholders.
Dr. Husseini called for a collaborative effort between the public and private sectors to address the issue, emphasizing the need for strategic partnerships to mobilize scarce funding and create innovative models for educating and sensitizing the public, especially mothers and youth. “We must combat the hydra-headed menace of unapproved and unclassified content,” he added.
Earlier in the event, the Executive Director of CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi, emphasized the critical need for a Smoke-Free Nollywood. He pointed out the detrimental impact that movies and music videos have in portraying smoking and tobacco use as a desirable lifestyle, which contradicts the Tobacco Control Regulations of 2019.
“We are at a point where we must stop the globalization of smoking and instead promote a healthy lifestyle,” Oluwafemi asserted. He revealed that studies have shown a persistent prevalence of smoking in Nigerian movies, in violation of the National Tobacco Control Act and the 2019 Tobacco Control Regulations, which explicitly prohibit tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorships in entertainment media.
Oluwafemi praised Dr. Husseini for his proactive stance in addressing this issue and for initiating dialogue with industry stakeholders to work towards a healthier and more responsible Nollywood. The engagement marks a pivotal step towards ensuring that Nigerian screens no longer serve as platforms for the unhealthy promotion of smoking and other harmful activities.
Source: Daily Post
#Nollywood
#NFVCB
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