The Institute of Dieticians in Nigeria have organized it's 54th Scientific Conference in Nasarawa state despite the ongoing ten days hunger protests across the country.
The annual conference which took place in Keffi local government area of Nasarawa state between July 29th to August 2nd with the theme "Curbing food insecurity and malnutrition" had numerous stakeholders in the nutrition sector in attendance.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen shortly after the opening ceremony of the scientific conference, Mr Tajudeen Ahmed, National President, Institute for Dieticians in Nigeria praised the large turnout of participants for the institute's conference despite the nationwide protests which began on August 1.
Ahmed expressed joy and satisfaction with the turnout of participants which he described as a surprise given the security concern over a nationwide protest by some youths and social media activists on hunger, bad governance and high cost of living scheduled from August 1 to 10.
He said the turnout strongly indicated the commitment of members to the institute and their resolve to attend, brainstorm and come out with policy recommendations on how best to encourage proper nutrition despite the security challenges affecting agricultural outputs across the country.
"Inspite of the challenges that confronted the organization of this conference among which is the proposed protest that should have made people to shun the protest but as at yesterday we have about 550 participants who have registered.
"This is impressive. We have participants from Lagos, Abia, Cross River, Delta and many other states across the country already settled in for the conference," he said.
He then said the choice of the theme was borne out of the desire by the institute to come up with recommendations that will food security and malnutrition given the security challenges being faced in the country.
The president added that aside the conference and general meeting, 15 distinguished individuals were made fellows of the institute while ten others including Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa state were given awards of excellence. END
