High profile actors and filmmakers have teamed up and pledged to stop smoking scenes in Nollywood movies because of its effect on children. 

The likes of Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Dakore Egbosyn-Akande, Osas Ighdaro, Anto Lecky, Michelle Dede are leading a SmokeFreeNollywood campaign. 

Kayode Kasum, Daniel Effiong, Linda Ejiofor, Kiki Omeili, and Imoh Emmanuel Chimezie are the other names involved in the campaign. 

There is a smoking epidemic in Nigeria where more than 16 000 people die every year from tobacco-related diseases. 

According to World Heath Organization (WHO), more than 370,000 children in Nigeria smoke daily and research shows that media influenced a significant percentage of current adult smokers. 

In a bid to fight this epidemic, Kano State Government recently announced a ban on public smoking.