SEO Riders:
– Student-led initiative “Tobacco-Free Revolution” mobilizes youths across Nasarawa and FCT.
- – Campaign targets youth vaping and flavored nicotine with peer clubs in schools.
– Advocates call for nationwide ban on flavored tobacco and stricter enforcement of existing laws.
At Lyngra Private Montessori School in Karu, Nasarawa State, 16-year-old Blessing Obiabo became a leading voice in Nigeria’s youth-led fight against tobacco addiction. Her momentum reflects the broader Students Congress Against Tobacco (SCAT) campaign, launched by Cedars Refuge Foundation under the banner of a “Tobacco-Free Revolution”, equipping students with peer-led advocacy tools and critical messaging to expose the tobacco industry’s aggressive targeting of teenagers.
SCAT now spans multiple schools in Nasarawa and Abuja, promoting Tobacco-Free Clubs, interactive awareness drives, and community dialogues involving parents and educators. Advocates—including CRF’s Peter Unekwu-Ojo—are urging swift policy reforms, including a nationwide ban on flavored tobacco and vape products, tougher penalties for marketing to minors, and mandatory school-based prevention programming. The effort aligns with broader calls from groups like Voices for Tobacco Controland UNA‑Nigeria, which are mobilizing youth debates and petitions to push for stricter regulation and enforcement.
