FrieslandCampina WAMCO, makers of Peak and Three Crowns milk, has awarded cash prizes to eight young nutritionists for their excellent scientific research presentations.
The dairy firm made gave the awards at the just-concluded 47th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Scientific Conference of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria.
The awardees, who are M.Sc and Ph.D students below 35, included Ifeoma Ezeh, Yetunde Ogundairo, Chukwuka Oluebube and Joy Amadi.
Others were 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 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.
Nutrition Society of Nigeria President Dr. Bartholomew Brai also drew attention to the worsening nutrition indices in Nigeria, saying:“The increased social media influence on food choices of Nigerians, which are mere fads and fallacies, are affecting the health of our populace negatively.”
The Keynote Speaker, Prof 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 after the conference, the Nutrition Society of Nigeria called on the government to ensure nutrition security through budgetary allocations and institutionalising nutrition in relevant ministries and agencies.