Popular Nigerian media personality Ebuka Obi-Uchendu has revealed that he battled cigarette addiction for 13 years after starting the habit as a teenager in junior secondary school, saying he eventually overcame it through conscious and deliberate effort.
Ebuka shared the experience during a recent episode of the MENtality podcast alongside singer and actor Banky W and health advocate Aproko Doctor, where the trio discussed addiction, self-awareness and mental health challenges. During the conversation, the television host spoke candidly about how smoking became a major part of his life from an early age and gradually intensified during his university years.
According to him, what began as experimentation in secondary school later developed into a serious dependency that saw him consuming as many as two packs of cigarettes daily while in higher institution. He explained that quitting the habit was not easy, but said intentional lifestyle changes and discipline eventually helped him break free from the addiction.
“But I started smoking in JSS 3, and I smoked for 13 years. In university, I was doing about two packs a day,” Ebuka disclosed during the podcast.
The media personality noted that overcoming addiction required more than just wishing to stop, stressing that people must intentionally confront the habits and emotional triggers that keep them trapped. His comments sparked broader discussions during the episode about the different forms addiction can take and how individuals often replace one harmful coping mechanism with another.
Banky W, who also spoke openly during the conversation, admitted that he once struggled with pornography addiction while attempting to avoid a promiscuous lifestyle. According to the singer, he initially believed consuming explicit content would help him stay away from unhealthy relationships with multiple women, but later realised he had merely exchanged one destructive behaviour for another.
Ebuka agreed with the observation, noting that many people unknowingly substitute one addiction for another while trying to escape previous harmful habits. The discussion then shifted toward the psychological factors that contribute to addiction and why many individuals rely on destructive behaviours to deal with emotional stress, trauma or pain.
Aproko Doctor added medical and psychological insight to the discussion, explaining that addiction is often rooted in the human tendency to avoid pain and seek pleasure. He stated that behaviours such as substance abuse, compulsive habits and other destructive patterns frequently emerge as coping mechanisms for unresolved emotional struggles or difficult life experiences.
According to him, understanding the underlying reasons behind addiction is an important step toward recovery and healing. He stressed the importance of self-awareness, emotional regulation and discipline in identifying harmful patterns before they become deeply rooted habits.
The three speakers also encouraged open conversations about mental health and addiction, particularly among young Nigerians who may be silently struggling with different forms of dependency. They argued that shame and secrecy often prevent people from seeking help early enough, allowing destructive behaviours to worsen over time.
Ebuka’s revelation has since generated conversations on social media, with many Nigerians praising the television host for speaking honestly about his past struggles. Others described the discussion as an important contribution to growing conversations around mental health, addiction recovery and personal accountability in modern society.
