TOBACCOCTRL AND SRM LAUNCHES PETITION TO ASK THE MINISTER OF HEALTH TO SEND THE TOBACCO CONTROL BILL FOR LEGISLATION

More than 600,000 who die annually from tobacco related diseases are non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke. The world’s leading preventable cause of death claiming the lives of 6 million people each is tobacco use which is a slow, but more often than not, sure killer. Several efforts have been made since 2012 in this current administration particularly by the President to get a Tobacco Control bill passed.

Most significant is the setup of a three-man ministerial team led by the Hon. Minister of Health and charged with the task of drafting an executive bill.

However, despite public utterances in May & July 2013 both by the President and the Hon. Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu assuring on the importance of making Nigeria smoke-free and reducing the smoking prevalence in the country, there is still no law to this effect. Tobacco Control Nigeria is a policy change and public health campaign project using Social Media to advance tobacco control and support the passage of a comprehensive domestic Tobacco Control (TC) law compliant with the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), to which Nigeria is a signatory.

 As part of the project, we have launched an online petition to encourage the Honourable Health Minister, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu in his commitment and quest to pass the comprehensive Tobacco Control for Legislature in Nigeria. The petition can be signed on http://tobaccoctrl.ng/petition-to-the-health-minister/ The TobaccoCtrl petition is in conjunction with Social Responsibility Manager 

For more information about this campaign project, please visit Website: http://tobaccoctrl.ng/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/TobaccoCtrl Twitter: www.twitter.com/TobaccoCtrl Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+TobaccoctrlNg 2go: Tobaccoctrl If you would like more information about the Tobacco Control Nigeria campaign; please send an email to info@tobaccoctrl.ng or visit www.tobaccoctrl.ng .

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STELLA DAMASUS AND FELA DUROTOYE BECOMES CELEBRITY CAUSE CHAMPIONS AS TOBACCOCTRL LAUNCHES GAME APP AND WEBSITE

Tobacco Control Nigeria is a policy change and public health campaign project using Social Media to advance tobacco control and support the passage of a comprehensive Tobacco Control (TC) law compliant with the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

 TobaccoCtrl kicked off its social media campaign officially in August with the launch of their website and Tobacco Dodge Game app. The group also held crowd spellbound with its message on the streets of Ajegunle in Lagos with the use of Dance and Music performance from Dathreat dance group and Vocal Slender. The launch activities continued with quiz, competitions and giveaways on twitter and Facebook.

 Meanwhile, Nollywood’s finest diva Stella Damasus and Motivational Speaker Fela Durotoye have signed up as Tobacco Control Celebrity Cause Champions. This development is part of implementing a social media-driven campaign on Tobacco Control. The policy change and public health campaign project (Tobaccoctrl) is aimed at sensitizing and informing the general public on Tobacco Control issues with the ultimate goal of advocating for the use of domestic laws to stringently regulate the use, distribution and promotion of tobacco products in Nigeria.

 You can also join Stella Damasus and Fela Durotoye as cause champions here or by sending Send (TC Your name eMail Location) to 39405. e.g (TC Peter Paul peterpaul@yahoo.com, Lagos). The team was on Rubbin’ Minds on Channels TV last to speak about the tobacco control bill with host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu.

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#OCCUPYNIGERIA: HAS SOMETHING SNAPPED? FELA DUROTOYE, SEUN KUTI, UGOMA ADEGOKE & OTHERS ON RUBBIN' MINDS 3PM TODAY

This Sunday's edition of Rubbin’ Minds, the leading national TV show for young Nigerians to discuss issues of national interest, we'll be looking at events on the nation's front burner in the past week. Rubbin’ Minds shows on Channels Television every Sunday at 3pm.
The week's show is captioned 'Something Has Snapped'. Discussions between Labour and Government are currently deadlocked and the possibility of a PENGASSAN shutdown with crippling economic consequences is imminent. Against the backdrop of already pressing security concerns, it would seem the whole polity is treading on thin ice.

We've got two segments lined up for this week's show:

The first will feature Efe Paul Azimo - a poet who specialises in revolutionary themes and is popular in literary circles. Efe Paul was at the Occupy Nigeria rallies and will treat us to one of his poems. We'll also be having GT Da Guitarman with his new single 'Excuse Me Sir'.
The second segment will be a review of the revolution that sparked across the country this past week ( We'll play clips of the different protests at this time). And to put it all in context, we'll be having Fela Durotoye - CEO Visible Impact, Gbenga Sesan - ED Paradigm Initiative, Kola Oyeneyin - Convener Sleeves Up and Seun Kuti - Musician and Activist. Also joining us in the studio is Ugoma Adegoke, Fashion Designer and Co-founder, The Life House.

Rubbin’ Minds shows on Channels TV on terrestial television and DSTV Channel 134 on cable. It can also be watched online via http://ynaija.com/rubbin-minds/ or www.channelstv.com.

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Fela Durotoye speaks on fuel subsidy| #occupynigeria

Since I got back into Nigeria yesterday, I have heard some preposterous arguments that the removal of the fuel subsidy will be justified by wise investments that will benefit all.

My response has been...How will a wasteful government suddenly realize the genius of prudence and making the right investment decisions simply bcs there is more money available from oil subsidy removal?

Will there be less graft & bribes involved in process of issuing the road contracts or power contracts?

Have we sought to honestly find every way we can plug wastage in our leaking economy before we ask a feeble populace to carry the burden of corruption and gross ineptitude of a gluttonous few?

Have the Presidency, the State & Local Governments and the Legislature discovered how to travel without a convoy of 20 cars to the airport?

Can the occupiers of these lofty positions act in honour as Barack Obama did in 2010 when he got every member of his cabinet to take a pay cut, starting with himself?

Within his first few days as British Prime Minister, David Cameron led the austerity cuts (upon his assumption) by cutting down his convoy to 2 cars and one outrider. The Members of Parliament in Britain are now only allowed 3rd class train tickets on official travel (as opposed to their traditional first class train ticket allowances). The Mayor of London now rides a bicycle to work.
Leadership by example!!!

How come our 'leaders' in government earn so much and still spend so much furnishing the same houses and offices they furnished with our money last year?

Do you furnish your office every year? Why should the President, Governor or Senate President?

Wasteful leadership cannot make prudent investments!!!!! Q.E.D

The change we need is not just policy. Its in the quality of mind and persons at policy making positions.

That said, how will we effectively deliver sustainable desired-change?

History has taught us that governments increase fuel prices, the people fight, students riot, labour unions strike, and then after a couple of weeks, the government reduces the price but never to its original price...and everyone feels like a winner, but the poor know and experience the reality of the loss. Then we start the cycle all over again with another administration.

God bless everyone who has stood up against this unjust policy. I salute everyone who has risked their lives to Occupy Nigeria with the message that Enough is Enough.

This is only the beginning of a long and arduous journey. The real Nigerian spring is going to be in April 2015.

WE NEED A CRITICAL MASS OF NEW NIGERIANS TO TAKE HOLD OF EVERY LEVEL OF POLICY MAKING POSITIONS BY 2015. Not a few good men and women whose voices will get drowned in the cacophony of mediocrity.

Let our brightest and best brains begin serious preparations NOW. Don't wait till 2014 to decide you want to make a change by running for office in 2015. It will be too late if you don't start NOW!!!!

As we keep up the pressure of PEACEFUL, NON-VIOLENT PROTESTS through all channels, let another set of emerging leaders (with a heart for the nation and a love for the people) arise and begin to prepare for 2015. We must encourage, train, mentor and empower the right people to go where few dare.

I have committed my life to raise and prepare as many exemplary leaders of excellence to take over the various policy making positions at all levels of governance (federal, state and local)- executive and legislative.

Even when 'they' back down on the fuel subsidy removal, (only because they need the banks to reopen so they can cash some of their billions or so that the airports can reopen so their children can travel back abroad to continue their education), don't let us be deceived again into submission and celebrate the illusion of victory.
Until we change the quality of people in policy-making positions, we won't yet have real and lasting victory.

Don't get it twisted... The 2015 elections is going to be the opportunity for the real Nigerian Spring.

The real question is ...Will we be ready to bring the real change we've always desired with the same zeal and fervor as we show now?

Please don't let today's passion die tomorrow.
The struggle continues today, tomorrow and forever. We WILL deliver the future!

God bless you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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