The United Nation World Food Programme (WFP) and the Global Allaince For Improve Nutrition (GAIN) have trained information officers from the Kebbi state Ministry of information on rice fortification with the aim to collaborate with the ministry to step down the training to the rural communities in the state.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Alhaji Saidu Buhari said that the GAIN is an alliance driven by vision of a world without nutrition and partner with organisations to increase access to missing nutrients in diets necessary for the people.
He said, the training was aimed at providing the participants as information officers with the required knowledge and skills to be used for sensitization and awareness creation in communities in Kebbi State as advocates for Gain.
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He thanked the organizers of the training “GAIN’’ for believing in with the Ministry and the partnership to ensure they achieve their desired result of rich fortification and equipping people with the right information on nutritious meals to eliminate malnutrition in the state.
According to him, this demonstrates it commitment towards the fortification process and the championing improved nutrition in the State.
“We will continue to support you in your campaign and public enlightenment and sensitization programmes.”
While wishing a successful training, the Permanent Secretary, implore the perticipants to be attentive, contribute and actively participate in the training.
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Mr. Seun Elere, Project Coordinator, Large Scale Food Fortification, Global Alliance for Improve Nutrition (GAIN), said the aimed of the training was to collaborate with the Kebbi state Ministry of information to dessiminate the information on what it means by rice fortification and fortified rice to the public as information officers in the state.
Mr. Elere, also discussed on Nigeria’s malnutrition challenges and food fortification efforts in Nigeria aimed at addressing micronutrient deficiency as well why rice fortication in Nigeria.
Mr. Ekene Onyeagba, Food Fortification Expert, United Nation World Food Programme, also gave the over view on WFP and intervention in Nigeria with regard to malnutrition.