The Oyo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening tobacco control by supporting efforts to establish a dedicated budget line for tobacco control and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) as part of the State’s 2027 budget process.
The commitment was made during a high-level Stakeholders’ Consensus Meeting on Tobacco Control Priorities and Budget Commitments, convened by Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria (TBI) in collaboration with the Oyo State Ministry of Health and supported by the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) under the project, “Strengthening Tobacco Control in Oyo State through Sustainable Domestic Financing.”
The meeting, held at the Conference Room of the Oyo State Ministry of Health in Ibadan, brought together senior government officials, policymakers, civil society organizations, development partners, researchers, and the media to deliberate on sustainable financing strategies for tobacco control and NCD prevention in the state.
Opening the meeting, the Director of Public Health described sustainable domestic financing as a critical requirement for effective implementation of tobacco control policies, noting that inadequate and inconsistent funding has continued to limit efforts to reduce tobacco use despite its growing health and socio-economic consequences.
In her keynote address, the Honorable Commissioner for Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, commended Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria and the Global Health Advocacy Incubator for their continued partnership in advancing public health initiatives in Oyo State.
She observed that tobacco use remains one of the leading preventable causes of illness and death, contributing significantly to the rising burden of non-communicable diseases and avoidable healthcare costs.
According to the Commissioner, prevention remains one of the most cost-effective investments government can make in protecting public health.
“Achieving meaningful progress in tobacco control requires more than policies alone. It requires sustainable financing, strong inter-sectoral collaboration, and collective commitment from all stakeholders. Today’s meeting provides an important opportunity to align our priorities and ensure that tobacco control is adequately reflected in the State’s planning and budgeting processes,” she said.
Delivering the goodwill message on behalf of the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), Barr. Michael Olaniyan emphasized that sustainable domestic financing remains the foundation for successful tobacco control programming. He urged government institutions and stakeholders to support the establishment of a dedicated budget line that would guarantee continuity of tobacco control interventions across Oyo State.
Participants unanimously acknowledged that sustainable financing is indispensable to effective tobacco control implementation and agreed that a dedicated budget line would strengthen government ownership, improve planning and coordination, enhance accountability, and ensure continuity of tobacco control programmes.
The event attracted high-level participation, including the Honorable Commissioner for Health, the Permanent Secretary of the Oyo State Ministry of Health, House of Assemble members, the Director of Public Health, Directors within the Ministry, representatives of the Ministries of Women Affairs, Justice, Education, Agriculture, Budget, Information, and Environment and Natural Resources, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), members of the Oyo State NCD Technical Working Group, representatives of the University College Hospital (UCH), the Tobacco Control CSO Coalition, the Oyo State Open Government Partnership (OGP), development partners, members of the media, and the Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria technical team led by its Executive Director, Dr. Dare Olagoke-Adaramoye.
One of the major highlights of the meeting was the commitment made by Stakeholders, who pledged the Ministry’s support for the inclusion of tobacco control and NCD financing in the 2027 pre-budget process.
The Ministry further acknowledged the importance of establishing a dedicated budget line to provide sustainable financing for tobacco control interventions, a commitment widely described by stakeholders as a significant milestone in advancing tobacco control advocacy in Oyo State.
The consensus meeting concluded with a collective agreement to sustain engagement with relevant government institutions throughout the 2027 budget cycle, strengthen technical and advocacy support, and monitor progress towards securing a dedicated budget allocation for tobacco control.
Speaking after the meeting, Dr. Dare Olagoke-Adaramoye, the Executive Director of Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria described the outcome as a major step towards institutionalizing sustainable financing for tobacco control and ensuring the long-term implementation of evidence-based interventions that will protect the health of residents across Oyo State.
The meeting forms part of ongoing advocacy efforts by Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria, with support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, to strengthen domestic financing for tobacco control and accelerate the prevention of non-communicable diseases through stronger government ownership and sustained policy implementation.
