- By Demola Atobaba, Ado-Ekiti
As part of its efforts to ensure food security in the society, leaders and members of Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), Ekiti State chapter has advocated on the intake of correct and hygienic food that can guarantee them food security and sound health as well as keeping home gardening.
The well attended One-Day Seminar for the public schools with the theme: “Hand In Hand for Better Food and Better Future”, took place at Anglican High School, Ado-Ekiti, was declared opened by the state NSN Chairman, Dr Funmilayo Omotoye said,
Addressing participants at the event, Dr Omotoye said, the programme was put together to sensitize and train students and the public on the need to be hygienic in their cooking and maintain a clean environment.
The nutrition expert emphasized the need for all stakeholders in the society, which includes hoteliers, millers, restaurant owners, hawkers, herbal mixture sellers, etc, to invest in food safety, and all hands must be on deck to sustain the cause.
She added that maintaining the highest standard of hygiene while working with food components prohibits and controls the spread of diseases.
She urged all participants in the seminar to translate whatever they learn into practice, noting that NSN as a body will ensure strict compliance with the implementation of safety rules in their respective places.
Dr Omotoye commended the impressive turnout of the participants for the seminar, noting that the NSN organized the programme to educate the public on the need to always maintain food hygiene and sanitation practices.
The NSN boss expressed optimism that food and nutrition-related illnesses and diseases will be far from the society after the
seminar, which is targeted at making the students a catalyst of the war against health threats in Ekiti.
She enjoined the society to be mindful of their health and to endeavour to do regular medical check-ups, saying it is for their own good and the consuming public.
Also speaking at the event, the two resource persons, Mrs Ayodeji Precious, from the Ekiti State Teaching University (EKSUTH), and Mr Victor, harped on the need for the public to see cleanliness and total hygiene as a priority while carrying out their assignments and also engaged in garden farm.
They observed that, food nutrition play a pivotal role in society, hence the need to ensure compliance with food safety norms and enhance the credibility of its preparation in a clean and neat environment.
Responding on behalf of the participants while speaking with TopNews, the senior prefect boy and the assistant senior prefect girl, John Joshua and Adebiyi Aderolake respectfully applauded the management of the NSN body for organising the programme, adding that the seminar will further enlighten the them on the danger of not keeping a hygienic environment.
Highlight of the event, was taking the participants to the school garden with a demonstration of how to plant seedlings, with a call on them to always keep an hygienic environment to ensure adequate food security in the society.
The programme also featured interactive sessions, exchanging pleasantries, while seedlings were distributed freely to all participants to plant.
