Korede Abdullah 
LAGOS, Nigeria – Public health advocates from 12 African countries have gathered in Lagos for a five-day training programme aimed at strengthening Africa’s capacity to monitor and counter tobacco industry interference in public health policies.
The third Africa Centre for Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Policy Research (ATIM) Tobacco Industry Monitoring (TIM) Training Course, held in Nigeria for the first time, brings together tobacco control advocates to enhance surveillance, research and evidence-based advocacy against industry tactics targeting public health.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, ATIM Director Prof. Lekan Ayo-Yusuf said the programme would equip participants with practical skills to anticipate, monitor and counter tobacco industry interference. “The course is intended to strengthen the capacity of tobacco control advocates to effectively monitor and counteract tobacco industry interference in public health policies in Africa,” he said.
Ayo-Yusuf said participants would gain expertise in documenting industry interference, analysing emerging tactics, interpreting industry documents and developing stronger advocacy strategies. Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Akinbode Oluwafemi, warned that the tobacco industry continues to evolve and spread misleading narratives targeting young people.
“It is necessary to ensure that advocates get updates about how the industry continues to spread misleading narratives to get our youths and children addicted and how the government should enforce the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and national laws,” Oluwafemi said. African Health Experts Meet in Lagos to Counter Tobacco Industry
Participants described the training as timely. Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance representative Jackline Mbone Juma said the programme had strengthened participants’ skills in industry monitoring and research, while Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance Communications Officer Emmanuel Onwuka said the training would improve efforts to monitor and report tobacco industry interference across Africa.
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