Eight young Nigerian nutritionists have been
awarded cash prizes by
FrieslandCampina WAMCO, makers of Peak and Three Crowns milk for their excellent scientific
research presentations at the just concluded 47th Annual General Meeting(AGM)
and Scientific Conference of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria.
The awardees are all Master of Science (MSc) and
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students below age 35. They are Ifeoma Ezeh, Yetunde
Ogundairo, Chukwuka Oluebube and Joy Amadi. Others are Michael Oderinde,
Ebunoluwa Odeyinde, Chinenye Ekwueme and John Ebenezer.
Tagged “Controversies in Nutrition: Separating
Facts from Fads and Fallacies” the five-day conference was held at the
University of Ibadan, Oyo State, and it had over 600 participants.
FrieslandCampina WAMCO also championed fitness
routines for the delegates. The company organised 15-minute twice-daily Three
Crowns milk-sponsored aerobic sessions that drew attention to the need for
everyone to stay fit and healthy with the right nutrition and daily exercises.
Participants enjoyed a 30-minute cardio session on the last day of the
conference.
Dr. Bartholomew Brai, President of the Nutrition
Society of Nigeria, also called attention to worsening nutrition indices in
Nigeria. He said, “The increased social media influence on food choices of
Nigerians, which are mere fads and fallacies are affecting the health of our
populace negatively.”
Keynote speaker at the conference, Professor I. A.
Onimawo highlighted key controversies in nutrition that affect infant and young
child feeding, food consumption, diet-related non-communicable diseases and
healthy diets.
In a communiqué issued after the conference held
September from 19 to 23, the Nutrition Society of Nigeria called on government
to ensure nutrition security in the country through budgetary allocations and
institutionalizing nutrition in relevant ministries and agencies of government.
