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| Amaka Bifom, Human Resource Director, CHI Limited; Zainab Balogun-Nwachukwu, Brand Ambassador, Hollandia Yoghurt; Israel Danauta, Head, Legal / Public Affairs and Corporate Communications, CHI Limited; Event Speaker, Amaka Okwesilieze Nwaora, Consultant Nutritionist / Council Member, Nutrition Society of Nigeria and Dr Imedimfon Okon, Event Panelist & Secretary, Nigeria Medical Association, Lagos Chapter during the Hollandia Dairy Day Conference in Lagos |
The theme for this year’s event, “Dairy Nourishment to
Support Healthy Living”, was informed by the need to highlight the role dairy
consumption plays in our everyday nourishment.
Speaking, the Head of Legal/Public Affairs & Corporate
Communications, CHI Limited, Mr. Israel Dan’Auta, drew attention to the low
dairy consumption figures in Nigeria and stressed the need for daily dairy
consumption.
He expressed confidence that the “Hollandia Dairy Day
conference will be an effective forum for discussing the way forward in dairy
nutrition, setting priorities as well as connecting with today’s consumers at a
deeper and more meaningful level.”
In partnership with health, nutrition and communication
experts who were carefully selected, CHI Limited hopes to empower consumers to
consider consumption of dairy products in their diets every day.
One of the guest speakers, Senior Dietitian at the Lagos
University Teaching Hospital, Cynthia Onyekwere, highlighted that dairy has
been categorized as a major food group and has recommended daily portions for
each individual.
She stated that despite this, the intake of dairy in Nigeria
has been relatively low (10 to 20 litres per capita consumption).
She noted that dairy products provide good sources macro and
micro nutrients such as calcium; protein, phosphorous, vitamin D and A.
“One cup of yoghurt meets about a quarter of our daily
protein needs, nearly half of our daily requirement of calcium and two third of
our daily need of phosphorous. While a cup of milk meets a third of our daily
requirement of vitamin D and one sixth of our daily needs of vitamin A,” she
concluded.
Another guest speaker, Amaka Okwesilieze Nwaora, a Nutrition
Consultant/Public Health Expert stated that milk naturally contains many
nutrients and only relatively few calories.
“Regular consumption of milk and dairy products is recommended
for all age groups as they are indispensable in every phase of our lives.
Children need vital nutrients in milk to grow up in good health, while milk
helps adults get the vital nutrients they need. Older people need milk calcium
for strong bones and teeth,” she added.
Hollandia Dairy Day will also draw attention to the
Hollandia corporate social responsibility activities through its Hollandia
Nuture’A’Child Initiative, an initiative aimed at eliminating malnutrition
amongst children.