Popular media personality and TV host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu has opened up about his past struggles with smoking and a nicotine addiction for 13 years.
He equally raised concerns over the increasing rate of betting addiction among young Nigerians.
Ebuka spoke during the latest episode of the podcast MENtality, released on Friday, alongside health advocate Aproko Doctor.
The discussion centred on addiction, peer pressure and the economic realities pushing many young people towards unhealthy habits.
Reflecting on his personal experience with smoking, the former Big Brother Naija host revealed that he picked up the habit as a teenager and struggled with it for years.
“I started smoking in JSS3 and I smoked for 13 years,” Ebuka said.
“And by university, I was smoking about two packs a day.”
He explained that addiction often develops gradually and can become difficult to control without support or deliberate intervention.
He credited conscious, intentional steps for helping him overcome the addiction.
On the growing betting culture in Nigeria, Ebuka said many youths are increasingly turning to gambling in search of financial breakthroughs amid harsh economic conditions.
“People would say they’re betting because ‘I dey find money’ and they heard about this guy that had N4 million from betting untop how many odds,” he added.
According to him, stories of individuals winning huge sums through betting often create unrealistic expectations and encourage others to chase quick money despite the risks involved.
On his part, Aproko doctor said many negative addictions developed as a result of people seeking escapism.
“Human beings have two ambitions. The first is to avoid pain. The second is to chase pleasure. A lot of drug use comes because a lot of people are trying to avoid pain,” he said.
