Isiyaku Ahmed
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Kano State have called for stronger, gender-responsive tobacco control policies, as stakeholders gathered for a one-day capacity-building workshop aimed at strengthening advocacy and media engagement.
The event, themed “Training Workshop on Gender Mainstreaming in Tobacco Control,” was organized by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC), with support from Tax Justice Network Africa.
Speaking at the workshop on Wednesday, the Executive Director of CISLAC, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, represented by Mohammed Murtala, CISLAC Program Manager, said the engagement was designed to enhance the capacity of CSOs and media practitioners on gender mainstreaming in tobacco control advocacy.
He described the meeting as timely, noting that the Kano State Government is currently undertaking legislative and policy reforms on critical issues affecting the state.
Comrade Rafsanjani stressed that civil society has consistently championed inclusive, evidence-based policies that reflect the realities of local communities.
He noted that integrating gender considerations into tobacco control is both a moral obligation and a strategic necessity, given the disproportionate impact of tobacco use on different groups.
“Evidence shows that women, men, boys, and girls are affected differently by tobacco use and exposure. Our response must reflect these differences if we are to achieve meaningful progress,” he said.
He further commended ongoing civil society-led advocacy efforts but warned that emerging tobacco products targeting adolescents and youths must be addressed through proactive legislation and policy measures.
According to him, sustained advocacy, collaboration, and accountability remain key to influencing policies that protect vulnerable populations and promote public health.
Watch Video
CISLAC Boss reaffirmed commitment of civil society to working closely with government and other stakeholders to ensure that gender-responsive approaches are fully integrated into tobacco control initiatives.
He added that CSOs would continue to mobilize communities and support policies that advance health equity across the state.
Earlier, Mohammed Murtala, CISLAC Program Manager, set the tone of the workshop by reeling out the training objectives and CSOs’ expectations.
In a goodwill message, civil society representative Abdullahi Zakari also lauded the organizers for convening the workshop, describing it as a critical step toward strengthening tobacco control efforts in Kano.
He emphasized the importance of implementing the strategic plan with a strong focus on gender-responsive policy advocacy.
“Addressing the different impacts of tobacco on men and women is essential to achieving effective and inclusive outcomes,” Zakari said.
Solomon Adoga, Senior Program Officer at CISLAC, the resource person of the training workshop, took stakeholders through an overview of the WHO-FCTC, Gender Bias in Tobacco Control, and Mainstreaming Gender in Tobacco Policies.
WHO-FCTC is the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
CSOs at the workshop who spoke to Stallion Times committed to continued collaboration and action-driven engagement to ensure that tobacco control policies in Kano State are inclusive, responsive, and capable of delivering lasting public health impact.
