Lagos Suspends Five Female Pupils Caught Smoking Shisha

The Lagos State Government has suspended five female pupils of
the Oreyo Senior Grammar School, Igbogbo, Ikorodu area of the
state, caught in a video smoking “Shisha” while in school
uniform.

Shisha is a practice of smoking tobacco through a bowl or a
tube.

The state government, through the Ministry of Education and
Ministry of Youth and Social Development, said it had also sent the
girls on rehabilitation.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Tokunbo Wahab,
confirmed the development when contacted.

Tokunbo noted that “appropriate steps are been taken to address
the issue with the aim of preventing future occurrence in the
state.

“The appropriate ministry is already intervening. You see why
the role of parents is so critical. We can’t leave everything to
government and school. This is heart wrenching.”

Shisha smoking is a way of inhaling tobacco, sometimes mixed
with fruit or molasses sugar, through the mouthpiece of a bowl hose
or tube1.

Although the practice of shisha smoking started in the Middle
East, it has spread to several other parts of the world, including
Nigeria.

In Nigeria, the prevalence rate of shisha smoking, especially
among the youth, is rising, making it an issue of public health
concern. The rising prevalence of shisha smoking in Nigeria can be
attributed to the increase in the openings of new shisha
lounges/bars, subtle advertisement of shisha in public places,
social acceptance of shisha smoking, peer influence, and public
misconceptions about the safety profile of shisha use.

In a recent study conducted in Ibadan, Oyo State, 633 patrons of
selected nightclubs were interviewed in order to obtain information
on prevalence, correlates and predictors of shisha smoking.

The results showed overall prevalence of shisha smoking as 7.1
per cent. There was no significant gender variability in the stage
of readiness to quit.

The Lagos State Government has suspended five female pupils of
the Oreyo Senior Grammar School, Igbogbo, Ikorodu area of the
state, caught in a video smoking “Shisha” while in school
uniform.

Shisha is a practice of smoking tobacco through a bowl or a
tube.

The state government, through the Ministry of Education and
Ministry of Youth and Social Development, said it had also sent the
girls on rehabilitation.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Tokunbo Wahab,
confirmed the development when contacted.

Tokunbo noted that “appropriate steps are been taken to address
the issue with the aim of preventing future occurrence in the
state.

“The appropriate ministry is already intervening. You see why
the role of parents is so critical. We can’t leave everything to
government and school. This is heart wrenching.”

Shisha smoking is a way of inhaling tobacco, sometimes mixed
with fruit or molasses sugar, through the mouthpiece of a bowl hose
or tube1.

Although the practice of shisha smoking started in the Middle
East, it has spread to several other parts of the world, including
Nigeria.

In Nigeria, the prevalence rate of shisha smoking, especially
among the youth, is rising, making it an issue of public health
concern. The rising prevalence of shisha smoking in Nigeria can be
attributed to the increase in the openings of new shisha
lounges/bars, subtle advertisement of shisha in public places,
social acceptance of shisha smoking, peer influence, and public
misconceptions about the safety profile of shisha use.

In a recent study conducted in Ibadan, Oyo State, 633 patrons of
selected nightclubs were interviewed in order to obtain information
on prevalence, correlates and predictors of shisha smoking.

The results showed overall prevalence of shisha smoking as 7.1
per cent. There was no significant gender variability in the stage
of readiness to quit.