Stakeholder advocates healthier living at Mirror Conference
Nigerians have been urged to pay closer attention to their dietary habits, particularly by reducing the intake of salt and sugary foods, as part of efforts to safeguard public health and reduce the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.
This call formed the centerpiece of discussions at the Mirror Newspaper Conference and Excellence Awards for Heroes of Our Time, held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Alausa, Ikeja.
Chairman of the occasion and legal icon, Asiwaju Kunle Kalejaye (SAN), emphasised the importance of personal responsibility in maintaining good health, especially as individuals grow older.
He advised Nigerians to adopt healthier lifestyles by cutting down on excessive salt and sugar consumption.
“People must take responsibility for what they eat and drink. Reduce salt and sugary foods, take more water, and de-emphasise canned juices and drinks,” Kalejaye said.
He also commended The Mirror Newspaper for its rising profile in the media landscape, describing it as “an embodiment of integrity,” while urging citizens to remain committed to justice and fairness in national life.
The conference, themed “X-raying the Salt: Safeguarding National Health,” featured a keynote address by the Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Akinbode Oluwafemi, who raised concerns over excessive salt consumption in Nigeria.
Represented by CAPPA’s Associate Director for Climate and Extractives, Olamide Martins, Oluwafemi described high salt intake as a “silent driver” of hypertension and other life-threatening conditions.
He disclosed that Nigerians consume an average of 10 grams of salt daily—double the less than 5 grams recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to him, hypertension affects between 30 and 40 percent of Nigerian adults and is a major contributor to heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure.
“Many sudden deaths we often attribute to mysterious causes are actually linked to undiagnosed or poorly managed non-communicable diseases driven by what we consume daily,” he noted.
Oluwafemi further identified structural challenges such as insecurity in farming communities, poor transportation systems, rising food costs, and increased reliance on processed foods as factors contributing to unhealthy diets.
*Photo shows awardees at the Mirror Conference held recently.
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