Veteran media personality and host of popular shows including Big Brother Naija, Rubbin’ Minds, and co-host of the MENtality podcast, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, has shared details of his long fight against cigarette addiction.
The 43-years old television presenter made the revelation during a recent episode of the MENtality podcast alongside Banky W and Aproko Doctor.
He started smoking in Junior Secondary School 3 and continued the habit for 13 years.
“In university, I smoked about two packs a day,” Ebuka said. “But I started smoking in JSS 3, and I smoked for 13 years.”. He credited conscious and deliberate steps for his success in quitting the addiction.
Ebuka stressed that strong determination helped him overcome the challenge.
Banky W also discussed his personal struggles. He developed a pornography addiction while he tried to stop being promiscuous.
“I saw it as a way to avoid multiple relationships with women, but I ended up replacing one bad habit with another,” Banky W revealed.
Ebuka agreed with the point. He noted that many people often swap one addiction for another as they try to escape the first.
Aproko Doctor gave medical context. He explained that people usually turn to harmful habits to escape pain.
“Human behaviour is driven by the need to avoid pain and seek pleasure,” the doctor said.
“Addictions often serve as coping mechanisms for difficult emotions.”
The three guests stressed the value of self-regulation and self-awareness. They urged people to recognise harmful patterns and take active steps to overcome them.
The open conversation has generated wide interest among Nigerians on the topics of addiction recovery and personal development.
