By Folasade Akpan
Nutrition International’s Nigeria Country Director, Dr Osita Okonkwo, has emphasised prioritising nutrition as a vital pathway toward building a healthier nation, stronger families, improved productivity, and sustainable human development outcomes nationwide.
Okonkwo said this in Abuja during the Fourth Annual Seminar on Nutrition and Free Food Palliative Distribution and Empowerment organised by Thelema Lion Foundation, a non-governmental organisation.
The seminar, themed “Beyond Hope: Strategic Nutrition Planning for Family Wellness,” examined how adequate nutrition improves family health and wellbeing, with particular emphasis on protecting vulnerable populations across communities nationwide.
According to Okonkwo, health and nutrition are closely connected, as poor nutrition weakens immunity, reduces productivity, and worsens health outcomes, particularly among women, children, and disadvantaged groups.
He advised pregnant women to consume diverse, nutrient-dense meals supporting healthy pregnancies and proper fetal development, stressing unborn children require adequate nutrition for optimal growth and lifelong wellbeing.
Okonkwo urged families and communities to prioritise nutrition planning, describing it as a long-term investment that strengthens human capital, promotes resilience, and supports sustainable national development over time.
The Founder of Thelema Lion Foundation, Mrs Ifeoma Agu, said her passion for supporting the less privileged was deeply rooted in childhood experiences marked by poverty and deprivation.
Agu recounted growing up in a household where food and basic needs were scarce, explaining those hardships inspired her commitment to sharing limited resources with others facing similar challenges.
Recalling childhood memories, Agu said worrying about people lacking food on Sundays shaped lasting compassion, transforming empathy into a lifelong commitment to helping vulnerable individuals and families.
She explained the foundation’s outreach began informally in 2014, including visits to Internally Displaced Persons camps in Kuje, where food support and free medical services were provided.
Agu said the organisation was formally registered later after encouragement from supporters, adding its focus included food assistance, empowerment initiatives, and healthcare interventions for vulnerable women.
She said the foundation distributed food items, including rice, garri, and yam tubers, to beneficiaries at the event, noting no fewer than 500 households benefitted.
Agu called on well-meaning Nigerians to support initiatives addressing hunger and poverty, noting collective action could significantly reduce food insecurity across communities nationwide.
She said when people unite to help others, hunger could be reduced, dignity restored, and smiles placed on faces of women and families needing urgent support.
Agu highlighted empowerment programmes, including sewing machines, grinding machines, and small grants for women, saying beneficiaries demonstrated commitment, resilience, and determination to succeed.
She expressed appreciation to her husband, Mr Uche Agu, for consistent encouragement and support, describing him as a strong pillar behind the foundation’s growing success.
The foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ngozi Madubuike, said the Women Arise Symposium had significantly empowered women and youths across Nigeria through targeted interventions.
Madubuike said interventions spanned entrepreneurship, financial literacy, education, healthcare, and socioeconomic empowerment, aiming to break poverty cycles and improve livelihoods sustainably.
She noted programmes helped women acquire skills, build confidence, and access opportunities for economic independence, while empowered women positively contribute to community development.
Madubuike acknowledged rising poverty challenges, especially after COVID-19, but reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to expanding reach, strengthening partnerships, and increasing nationwide impact.
She expressed gratitude to partners and volunteers for sustained support, urging stakeholders to collaborate continuously in creating opportunities for women and youths to thrive.
Some beneficiaries expressed appreciation for food palliatives and empowerment support, describing the gesture as timely and helpful, especially during the yuletide season.
They called on Nigerians to identify with vulnerable populations and extend support during celebrations, stressing compassion and generosity could transform lives and communities. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
