I started in JSS3 – Ebuka Obi-Uchendu on 13 years of smoking – The Sun Nigeria

By Seyi Babalola

Media personality Ebuka Obi-Uchendu has opened up on his 13-year struggle with smoking and how he eventually quit through intentional effort.

On a recent episode of the MENtality podcast with Banky W and Aproko Doctor, Ebuka revealed that he began smoking in junior secondary school.

According to him, the habit became more intense during his time at university, when he consumed up to two packs of cigarettes every day.

“But I started smoking in JSS 3, and I smoked for 13 years. In university, I was doing about two packs a day,” he said.

He credited conscious, intentional steps for helping him overcome the addiction.

Banky W also shared a personal account, revealing he developed a pornography addiction while trying to stop being promiscuous.

He explained he initially viewed it as a way to avoid relationships with multiple women, but realised he had replaced one harmful habit with another.

Ebuka agreed, noting that many people swap one addiction for another while trying to escape the first.

Aproko Doctor added context on the psychology of addiction, stating that destructive habits often develop as people seek to escape pain.

He explained that human behaviour is largely driven by avoiding pain and pursuing pleasure, and that substance use and other addictions are often coping mechanisms for difficult emotions or circumstances.

The three of them emphasised self-regulation and self-awareness as key tools for identifying and overcoming negative addictions.