Emmanuel Onyedika
Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mariya Mahmoud, has called for greater investment in nutrition and dietetic services to help Nigeria tackle malnutrition and the rising number of people living with diet-related diseases.
Mahmoud said proper nutrition is key to improving public health, boosting productivity and developing the country’s human capital. She made the call at the 17th Scientific Conference and National Workshop of the Dieticians Association of Nigeria (DAN) held at the Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde Hall, Labour House, Abuja.
The conference, themed “The Future of Dietetics in Nigeria: Practice, Innovation and Sustainability,” was described by the minister as timely. Represented by her Special Assistant on Agriculture and Rural Development, Junaidu Yakubu Muhammad, Mahmoud stressed that Nigeria’s healthcare system must place greater attention on nutrition, disease prevention and the role of dieticians in promoting healthier lives.
She noted that Nigeria faces a double nutrition challenge: many families still struggle with hunger, undernutrition and lack of essential nutrients, while cases of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, stroke and other diet-related illnesses continue to rise.
According to her, the situation requires urgent and coordinated action through stronger investment in nutrition, preventive healthcare and professional dietetic services. Mahmoud emphasised that dieticians now play a much bigger role than before, serving not only as healthcare support workers but as key professionals in disease prevention, health promotion, research, education and public awareness.
She added that good nutrition is vital to children’s education, maternal and child health, workforce productivity and national development. “A healthy nation is not built by hospitals and medicines alone. It is also built through proper nutrition, preventive healthcare and deliberate investment in the wellbeing of citizens,” she said.
The minister reaffirmed the commitment of the FCT administration, under the leadership of Minister Nyesom Wike, to improving access to quality healthcare and strengthening programmes that promote the wellbeing of residents.