Media personality Ebuka Obi-Uchendu has opened up about his long battle with smoking, revealing that he struggled with cigarette addiction for 13 years before finally quitting through deliberate effort.
Speaking during an episode of the MENtality podcast alongside Banky W and health influencer Aproko Doctor, Ebuka revealed that he started smoking while still in junior secondary school.
According to him, the habit worsened significantly during his university years.
“But I started smoking in JSS 3, and I smoked for 13 years,” Ebuka said.
“In university, I was doing about two packs a day.”
The television host explained that he eventually stopped smoking after intentionally taking steps to overcome the addiction and regain control of his life.
During the conversation, Banky W also shared his personal struggles with addiction, revealing that he once became addicted to pornography while trying to avoid promiscuity.
According to the singer, he initially believed it was a safer alternative before later realising he had simply exchanged one unhealthy habit for another.
Reacting to Banky W’s comments, Ebuka noted that many people often replace one addiction with another while trying to escape destructive behaviour.
Aproko Doctor also added that harmful habits are frequently connected to emotional pain and unresolved personal struggles.
Ebuka first gained national attention after participating in the inaugural edition of Big Brother Nigeria in 2006.
Although he finished eighth during the competition, he later built one of Nigeria’s most successful television careers and became widely recognised as the host of Big Brother Naija and Rubbin’ Minds.
The media personality married Cynthia Obianodo in 2016, and the couple have two children together.
