Group Trains Journalists, Nutrition officers on Rice Fortification in Kano 

A non profit organization known as TECHNOSERVE in collaboration with World Food Programme (WFP), Nigeria, have organized a sensitization training for Nutrition officers and journalists on the significance of Promoting Rice Fortification in Nigeria.

The training focused on the nutrition officers in some selected local government areas and media professionals in Kano state North West Nigeria.

The project Manager Promoting Rice Fortification in Nigeria from TECHNOSERVE, Mr. Seun Elere identified Rice fortification as an effective way of tackling malnutrition among children under 5 and adolescent girls.

He said the decision of Nigerian Government to fortify rice was aimed at reducing the increasing rate of micronutrients deficiency among Nigerians especially anaemia.

Elere explained that, Technoserve has been a stakeholder in the food Fortification space in Nigeria and has been a partner in driving rice Fortification.

“The engagement with journalists was aimed at ensuring propper dissemination of the benefits of fortified rice in the body.”

Elere explained that, fortified rice is safe and healthy for consumption for children under 5 and adolescent girls.

“Fortified rice is safe, any variety can be fortified and we want you to use your various channels promote the consumption of fortified rice across Kano state.”

Also, A food fortification expert with the World Food Program Nigeria, Ekene Onyeagba, said the essence was to encourage nutritious food in the society by adding the essential vitamins and minerals that is needed for the under 5 children and adolescents girls in order to grow better.

“We selected Kano state because Kano is one of the biggest producers of rice in Nigeria and malnutrition in Kano state is quiet alarming and we decided to bring it to state after doing it in Kebbi state so we reduced the current malnutrition level in the state.”

He noted that, promoting the production of fortified rice was the key objective that will be distributed for school feeding programmes in Kano state.

“We are working with stakeholders, like the government of Kano state, key rice producers across all levels in Kano state.”

The Kano State Commissioner for Information, Halilu Dantiye, represented by the Director of Public Enlightenment of the ministry, Muhammad Zakari, appreciated the efforts of Technoserve and the World Food Program through the PRiFN towards supporting the state government on rice fortification.

Journalists from various media outfits who attended, expressed their commitments to create awareness among the public for consumption of fortified rice in the state.