₦airaland Forum

OSINBAJO JOINS GATES, DANGOTE OTHERS AT LEADERSHIP FORUM ON NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH OUTCOMES

*Stresses importance of enriching food processing

Although efforts by stakeholders in the Food Processing Industry to improve nutritional value of edible oil, salt, sugar, wheat flour and other processed foods is commendable, ensuring full compliance to national standards will be required to shape national public health outcomes to attain desired levels, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo stated this Thursday at the 3rd Annual Nigeria Food Processing and Nutrition Leadership Forum, held virtually, and organized by the Aliko Dangote Foundation, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

According to the Vice President, “the Nigerian government is keen on driving collaborative efforts in enhancing national monitoring and enforcement of fortification quality standards.

He praised the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for their innovative work in this regard through the Joint Regulatory Framework.

Said he: “Industry Compliance with food fortification standards especially in Wheat Flour, Salt and Sugar has also improved. We however need to reach full compliance to be able to shape national public health outcomes to the extent that we desire.”

Food fortification is the practice of enriching processed foods by adding nutrients at higher levels than what the original food provides. This is done to address micronutrient deficiencies across populations.

Commending the efforts of stakeholders in meeting set targets in food fortification, Prof. Osinbajo said “the food systems within the processing sector are fitted for improved nutrition.”

He noted that “we have an enormous opportunity here to reinforce the goal of sustainable food fortification in Nigeria. I am pleased to see that the average compliance rates to national fortification standards had increased from 50% in 2018 to 75% in 2019 and hit the 2020 target of 90%.

“I believe this platform will continue to serve as an opportunity to review progress on an annual basis, and share lessons learned against fortification standards within their respective sectors.”

Speaking particularly about the ingenuity of the stakeholders in address micronutrient deficiencies in Nigeria, Prof. Osinbajo explained that “the Micronutrient Fortification Index (MFI) is an interesting innovation that will motivate industries to self-regulate in meeting government standards for food fortification. The use of this tool should be adopted by all companies involved in fortification and I believe it should be made available to stakeholders and shareholders alike.”

“We should be able to hold them accountable as they strive to meet industry benchmarks, including compliance with Nigerian Fortification Standards. Government regulatory agencies will definitely find the tool useful in support of industry regulation efforts and consumer expectations.

“The Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, the Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment and the Ministry of Health each play a critical role and have been at the forefront of food fortification in Nigeria. Through ongoing engagements with the Director Generals (DGs) and core group representatives from NAFDAC, SON, and FCCPC, the collaboration towards enhancing national monitoring and enforcement of fortification quality standards has been strengthened,” Prof. Osinbajo added.

The forum featured presentations by Chairman of Aliko Dangote Foundation, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Co-chair of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr Bill Gates; Director, Strengthening African Processors of Fortified Foods (SAPFF) Programme, Mr Rizwan Yusufali; Group COO, Flour Mills of Nigeria, Mr Boye Olusanya; MD, Dangote Sugar, Mr Ravindra Singhvi; and MD, PZ Wimar, Mr Ipsit Chakrabarti, among others.

The Ministers of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire; Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; the Director General of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye; and the Director General of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Mr Babatunde Irukera, also spoke at the forum.

There is hardly any country in the world that you won't find Nigerians in various spheres of life especially in the health sector

We are where we are today because we favor kinsmen than a man of integrity capable of giving us result

There is no other person fit for that position other than Osinbajo. He is a good leader

Humility

Health is wealth it all starts with what we eat.

Nigeria has the potential to attract and benefit immensely from huge local and foreign private sector resources.”

As a nation we have to employ other avenue to boost our economy

ojokolax:
With a little bit of a rejig, more ammunitions and better motivation, I think we can ensure that justice is actually served and those farmers did not die in vein

.
Justice will prevail

Your vote should not be party based but integrity base

Congratulations. We need more of this in other states in readiness to any eventuality

ojokolax:
A full restrategizing of the operational framework as being proposed by the Presidency is the best way out.

Correct

“Nigeria has all it takes to be the best in the world; we have the talents, men and women, vision and the resources it takes to be great.

Nigeria needs new ideas on security matters we can't continue to use the old approach.

Madugu Johan of Nasarawa meaning captain and leader

The place of gas in Nigeria's accelerated economic recovery plan. It is time we tap into all our natural resources. We are blessed naturally

Lifted2000:
The media reporters know most Nigerian enjoy sensationalism. Especially the youths that doesn't have ability to think on their own.

The media (journalist ) has no excuse to feed the masses with junks they are meant to educate people.

No leader rejoices at the insecurities of his people

How some journalist reason is surprising. How is it possible that you have doubt in your assistance and you still delegate serious matters to him to handle,"your number one go to".
We need to apply wisdom when we write. Osinbajo remains the best VP ever in Nigeria

We have people that are gifted all they need is an opportunity

We are intelligent and skillful

What most Nigerian youth needs is an opportunity to show case their skills

This is a welcome development. We need to take cleaning of our environment seriously for our own good. Thank you osinbajo

Made in Nigeria..
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This is quite unfortunate.
Nigeria will remain like this (God forbid) if we remain this way running after shadows and sowing people's image in dirt for self gain.
It is not compulsory that you write. If you must please write with wisdom to benefit readers.
Please is He the vice president because He was a pastor? Or appointed as Vice president because He was a SAN?
Or because you thought him to be right for the position?
Our major problem start with the sentimental voters.
Osinbajo as a pastor do not collect tithes either forceful or willingly it is onto God and the church authority decides how to use it.
Who ever that decides to pay his or her tithes do so as a choice I am sure they have right to do what ever they please with their income
So you have no point on that think of a better way to pysc us oooo

The rural areas needs this the most.

Someday sometime we will have to adopt this because of the peculiarity of our challenges in various states

Electricity/energy is a major ingredients in development. Survival fund is a success I believe we can get same for solar power

Say no to rape

The major challenge facing entrepreneurs apart from finance is electricity. If this is effectively taken care of then half of our problems would have been taken care of

The effect of Economic sustainability plan on our Economy may take time but with a little time we will appreciate it

This may not affect you directly if you are not importing cars or tractors. But if you are a Nigerian living in Nigeria you will know that a slight increase in cost of transportation affects everything

He is the best always coming up with ideas to improve the economy and make life easier