By John Koroma
As Sierra Leone joined the rest of the world in commemorating World No Tobacco Day 2026, the Global Youth Network for Empowerment and Development (GYNED), together with several youth-led organizations championing tobacco control, intensified calls for stronger government action to combat tobacco and nicotine use among young people.
The one-day school engagement programme, held on Thursday, 28th May 2026 at the CCSL Hall on Kingharman Road in Freetown, brought together secondary school pupils, health professionals, youth advocates, officials from the Ministry of Health, representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO), and anti-tobacco campaigners from across Africa.
Held under the global theme: “Unmasking the Appeal: Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction.” the engagement focused on raising awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine products while empowering young people to become advocates for healthier communities.
Delivering an overview of the Youth-Led Advocacy on Tobacco Control Project, National Advocacy Coordinator, Mr. Jimmy Boye-Caulker, described tobacco use as a growing threat to young people both globally and in Sierra Leone. He noted that the project has been implemented over the past three years with support from partners to reduce tobacco consumption through advocacy, public education and policy engagement.
According to him, the initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization to ensure that young people understand the devastating health and social consequences of tobacco and nicotine addiction.
Welcoming participants, the Executive Director of GYNED, Mr. Musa Khalil Koroma, commended development partners, including the Acting Director of Y-ACT, Mrs. Winnie Olwal, representatives of the African Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA), and other regional advocates for their continued support in the fight against tobacco use among youth.
“Today is a day for young people. We want you to become Ambassadors and Change Agents in your schools and communities,” he told participants. He emphasized the importance of sustained awareness creation and youth engagement in addressing tobacco and substance abuse, while also appreciating teachers and schools for supporting the initiative.
Coalition member and Executive Director of the Network for Youth Empowerment, Mr. Moses Sorie Kodah, called on Government to strengthen the enforcement and implementation of tobacco control policies to safeguard the future of young people.
Similarly, the National Youth President of the National Youth Council, Mr. Tejan Kellah, warned that increasing tobacco use among youth poses serious health and social dangers.
“If urgent action is not taken now, the future of our youth could be destroyed,” he cautioned.
He linked tobacco consumption to the rising abuse of harmful substances such as cannabis, shisha and kush, stressing that many young addicts were first introduced to smoking while in school.
Tobacco Control Advocate, Mr. Sulaiman Stoma Koroma, urged pupils to take the campaign seriously and highlighted the tragic consequences of drug and substance abuse by referencing the story of a promising law student whose ambitions were destroyed by addiction. He further noted that although Sierra Leone passed the Tobacco Control Act in April 2023, major gaps remain in its implementation, particularly the failure to fully operationalize the Tobacco Control Council.
Representing the Ministry of Health’s Directorate of Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health, Mr. Michael A. Conteh highlighted the devastating health implications of tobacco use, including hypertension, diabetes, cancer and other non-communicable diseases. He also expressed concern over the growing use of shisha and nicotine-related products among young girls in Sierra Leone.
Speaking on behalf of the Health for All Coalition, Mr. Edward Jusu warned that tobacco companies continue to target young people through attractive advertising and flavored nicotine products designed to lure adolescents into addiction.
A representative from the World Health Organization also cautioned pupils against being influenced by tobacco advertisements, emphasizing that tobacco and nicotine products pose serious risks to health, education and overall wellbeing. He reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to supporting Government and stakeholders in intensifying tobacco control advocacy and public awareness campaigns across Sierra Leone.
The event featured poem recitations, an inter-generational panel discussion, quiz competitions among participating schools, and the signing of a youth declaration against tobacco use. Cash prizes were awarded to outstanding participants, with Juniata Abdulai of the Freetown Secondary School for Girls emerging as the overall winner. Aberdeen Municipal Secondary School secured second position, while Albert Academy Secondary School placed third.
The programme climaxed with a bold and unified Call to Action by youth advocates, civil society organizations, health stakeholders and students for the full implementation of the Tobacco Control Act of 2023. Participants strongly urged Government to accelerate the operationalization of the Tobacco Control Council and ensure effective enforcement of tobacco control regulations nationwide.
In a major highlight of the engagement, the Global Youth Network for Empowerment and Development (GYNED) specifically called on His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio to urgently appoint a Chairman for the Tobacco Control Council, describing the move as critical to strengthening national coordination, enforcement and accountability in Sierra Leone’s fight against tobacco and nicotine addiction.
Stakeholders emphasized that without the full establishment and functioning of the Tobacco Control Council, the objectives of the Tobacco Control Act may not be fully realized, thereby exposing more young people to the dangers of tobacco, nicotine, drugs and substance abuse.
World No Tobacco Day is observed annually on May 31 to raise global awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use and to advocate for stronger policies and collective action aimed at reducing tobacco consumption worldwide.
