The World Health Organisation (World Health Organization) has announced its World No Tobacco Day 2026 Awards, recognising individuals and institutions from across the globe for outstanding contributions to tobacco control, public health protection, and anti-industry advocacy.
Among the African Region’s five awardees, three Nigerians stood out prominently: the National Film and Video Censors Board (National Film and Video Censors Board), Professor Olalekan Ayo-Yusuf of the School of Health Systems and Public Health at the University of Pretoria, and Professor Catherine Egbe of the South African Medical Research Council. The remaining African recipients include Nare Narcisse Mathurin of Burkina Faso and Louise Mapleh Kpoto of Liberia.
The announcement, made on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, places African-led tobacco control efforts in global focus, particularly at a time when health authorities are intensifying campaigns against nicotine addiction among young people.
Across all regions, WHO named 38 awardees in total, spanning Africa, the Americas, Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia, and the Western Pacific.
CAPPA Applauds Recognition, Calls It a Milestone for Public Health
The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa) described the honours as a major validation of years of sustained advocacy against tobacco industry influence in Africa.
Reacting to the development, CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said the award reflects the impact of consistent, evidence-driven policy engagement across the continent.
“We warmly congratulate the NFVCB, Professor Catherine Egbe and Professor Olalekan Ayo-Yusuf on this well-deserved global recognition,” Oluwafemi said. “Their work has strengthened tobacco control efforts not only in Nigeria but across the African continent. This honour is also a reminder that sustained advocacy, strong regulation and evidence-based public health policies can save lives.”
He emphasised that the recognition goes beyond individual achievement, pointing to a broader shift in how African institutions are responding to the tobacco epidemic and industry tactics targeting younger populations.
Nigeria’s Film Regulator Praised for Bold Policy Shift
Particular attention was given to the National Film and Video Censors Board and its leadership for introducing a landmark policy in 2024 banning the promotion and glamorisation of tobacco and nicotine products in Nollywood films, music videos, and online skits.
According to CAPPA, the decision marked a turning point in efforts to reduce the influence of smoking imagery in entertainment media consumed by millions of young Nigerians.
“The NFVCB’s Director-General Dr. Shaibu Hussein showed exemplary leadership and courage by taking a bold stand against the normalisation of smoking in entertainment media,” Olufemi added. “At a time when the tobacco industry increasingly targets young people through popular culture and digital content, this policy sends a powerful message that public health must come before corporate profit.”
The regulation, formally announced on May 21, 2024, prohibits the display, promotion, and glamorisation of tobacco-related products in Nigerian entertainment content. It was approved by the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy and backed by the NFVCB Act of 1993, in alignment with Nigeria’s National Tobacco Control Act 2015 and accompanying 2019 regulations.
Nigeria’s move also placed it among a small group of countries globally—and the first in Africa—to adopt such restrictions in creative media content. It followed sustained advocacy efforts, including the #SmokeFreeNollywood campaign led by civil society groups such as CAPPA and the Nigerian Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA).
The policy also reflects compliance with Article 13 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which addresses restrictions on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship across media platforms.
Global Context and Call for Stronger Action
The 2026 World No Tobacco Day theme, “Unmask the appeal – countering tobacco and nicotine addiction,” focuses on exposing how tobacco and nicotine industries design marketing strategies that appeal to younger audiences.
CAPPA also extended congratulations to other global recipients, including Yemeni Prime Minister Dr Shaya Mohsin Zindani, who received the WHO Director-General’s Special Award.
Oluwafemi urged Nigerian authorities to sustain momentum by strengthening enforcement of existing laws and resisting interference from the tobacco industry.
“Recognition is important, but the bigger task remains protecting Nigerians, especially young people, from the devastating health and economic consequences of tobacco use,” he said. “This moment should inspire even stronger commitment to a smoke-free future.”
World No Tobacco Day, observed annually on May 31, continues to serve as a global platform for highlighting progress, exposing industry tactics, and encouraging stronger tobacco control policies worldwide.