The Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), in collaboration with the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), and the Healthy Food Advocacy Coalition, has held a strategic media roundtable in Abuja aimed at empowering journalists to promote healthier food policies in Nigeria.
Themed “Empowering Media to Advance Sodium Reduction and Front-of-Pack Labelling for a Healthier Nigeria”, the event brought together media professionals to explore the role of public-interest journalism and storytelling in driving food system reforms.
Dr Emmanuel Sokpo, Country Director of NHED, said the forum was convened to support the fight against Nigeria’s rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as hypertension, heart disease, and stroke, which are significantly linked to high salt consumption.
“Research shows that many packaged and processed foods consumed by Nigerians far exceed recommended sodium levels,” he said.
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“The lack of clear front-of-pack labelling prevents consumers from making informed dietary choices. Our food environment is filled with hidden dangers.”
Sokpo stressed the media’s critical role in raising awareness and advocating policy change, urging journalists to pursue impactful reporting on nutrition, consumer rights, and corporate accountability in the food industry.
In her opening remarks, Joy Amafah, Country Coordinator at GHAI, highlighted the growing shift from traditional Nigerian diets to ultra-processed products (UPPs) high in salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats.
“These products are heavily marketed and promoted, contributing to the surge in diet-related diseases. We need stronger policy tools such as Nutrition Profile Modelling (NPM), Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPWL), and comprehensive sodium reduction strategies,” she stated.
Dr Joseph Ekio, a public health expert, warned that poor nutrition and NCDs were worsening at an alarming rate in Nigeria.
“These diseases are putting immense pressure on our healthcare system and negatively impacting the economy. Urgent, coordinated action is required,” he said.
Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of CAPPA, called on journalists to shift the narrative surrounding food policy, arguing that nutrition stories should be treated as critical health and justice issues, not mere lifestyle content.
“Media must elevate food stories into the mainstream — these are stories about people’s rights to health and survival,” he said.
Also speaking, Ms Oluwatoyin Adeomi, Programme Officer at NHED, assured media participants of continued support in the form of access to data, expert interviews, and technical materials to enhance their reporting on sodium reduction and labelling policies.
“This marks the start of a long-term media collaboration. The national conversation about food must move from commercial interest to public health priorities,” she added.
The roundtable concluded with a renewed commitment from stakeholders to advance evidence-based food policies, leveraging the power of the media to promote healthier, informed choices and prevent NCDs in Nigeria.