Abuja: While emphasising that Nigeria’s food diversity is enough to sustain healthy living if properly harnessed, she stated: ‘Nigerians should diversify their food. We have more than enough to make us live healthy lives, if only they knew. Food is medicine. If they don’t take food as medicine, medicine will be their food. Safe, healthy, diverse, nutritious food should be a priority in this country.’
According to Voice of Nigeria, Dr Phorbee urged journalists to intensify nutrition education and awareness campaigns, noting that the media remains a trusted voice in shaping public knowledge and national attitudes toward food and health. She emphasized the need for more deliberate communication from development partners, government, and consumers regarding nutrition and health in the food system.
Dr Phorbee also called for stronger oversight and accountability in the distribution of government and donor food palliatives, warning against the circulation of expired or unsafe food to vulnerable Nigerians. She described such acts as a violation of public trust and a silent threat to national health security. She stressed the importance of ensuring all food assistance and social intervention programmes meet the National Food Safety and Quality Standards.
Her call reinforces the federal government’s ongoing efforts under the National Food Systems Transformation Pathway and the National Food Safety Management Committee to strengthen quality assurance, consumer protection, and ethical standards in food handling and distribution.
Some participants who spoke to Voice of Nigeria described the training as timely and transformative, commending GAIN for its foresight in equipping journalists with tools to improve public understanding of nutrition and food systems. Journalists from various media outlets shared how the training would enhance their ability to report on nutrition topics, hold policymakers accountable, and engage diverse audiences.
The two-day workshop, facilitated by experts in nutrition communication and data storytelling, with over 35 participating journalists from Nigeria, underscores ongoing efforts to build a strong media network that champions evidence-based nutrition reporting and promotes healthier food systems across Nigeria.