Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor | Journalist at Weng Global
The wife of the Anambra State Governor, Dr. Nonye Soludo, has called on Nigerians to adopt healthier eating habits by embracing locally produced and natural foods, stressing that proper nutrition remains one of the most effective ways to prevent diseases and improve overall well-being.
Dr. Soludo made the appeal while addressing participants at a public health and nutrition awareness programme in Anambra State, where she emphasized the importance of consuming wholesome foods instead of highly processed alternatives. According to her, many of the health challenges affecting Nigerians today can be reduced through informed dietary choices and healthier lifestyles.
The Anambra First Lady, who has consistently championed healthy living through her “Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo” campaign, said citizens should return to traditional diets rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, and locally sourced foods.
She noted that healthy eating is not merely about avoiding illness but about building stronger families and communities capable of contributing meaningfully to national development.
According to her, food should serve as medicine rather than become a source of disease.
Dr. Soludo observed that changing dietary patterns, increasing dependence on processed foods, excessive sugar consumption, and unhealthy lifestyle habits have contributed significantly to the rise in non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and cardiovascular illnesses across Nigeria.
She urged Nigerians to reconsider their daily food choices by reducing their intake of sugary drinks, processed snacks, excessive salt, unhealthy fats, and artificial additives.
Instead, she encouraged households to prioritize fresh vegetables, fruits, beans, yam, cocoyam, sweet potatoes, unprocessed grains, fish, and other nutritious local foods readily available in different parts of the country.
According to her, Nigeria possesses abundant agricultural resources capable of providing nutritious meals without relying heavily on imported or processed food products.
She stressed that promoting indigenous foods would not only improve public health but also support local farmers, strengthen food security, and boost the nation’s economy.
The governor’s wife also encouraged parents to pay greater attention to the nutrition of their children from infancy, noting that healthy eating habits established early in life often continue into adulthood.
She explained that balanced nutrition contributes significantly to children’s physical growth, brain development, academic performance, and emotional well-being.
Dr. Soludo expressed concern over the growing popularity of fast foods among young people, warning that excessive dependence on such diets could expose individuals to preventable health complications later in life.
She therefore called on schools, parents, religious organizations, and community leaders to work together in promoting nutrition education and healthier eating habits.
According to her, creating awareness about proper nutrition should become a collective responsibility rather than being left solely to healthcare professionals.
She added that regular physical activity, adequate hydration, quality sleep, and routine medical check-ups should complement healthy eating as part of a complete healthy lifestyle.
The First Lady highlighted that healthy living does not necessarily require expensive imported foods, arguing that many affordable Nigerian staples contain essential nutrients needed for good health.
She pointed to vegetables such as ugu, bitter leaf, scent leaf, okra, spinach, and waterleaf, alongside locally grown fruits and grains, as examples of nutritious foods that families should incorporate into their daily meals.
Dr. Soludo further urged residents to establish home gardens where possible, saying such initiatives could increase access to fresh vegetables while encouraging self-sufficiency and environmental sustainability.
She said urban farming and backyard gardening could contribute meaningfully to household nutrition, particularly amid rising food prices.
The nutrition advocate also advised Nigerians to read food labels carefully before purchasing packaged products to better understand their nutritional content.
She explained that excessive sugar, sodium, preservatives, and unhealthy fats hidden in processed foods often contribute to chronic illnesses over time.
According to her, making informed purchasing decisions remains one of the simplest ways consumers can protect their health.
Dr. Soludo reaffirmed her commitment to sustaining campaigns that educate women, children, and communities about healthy living across Anambra State.
She explained that improving nutrition remains central to achieving better maternal and child health outcomes while reducing healthcare costs associated with preventable diseases.
She also encouraged women to become ambassadors of healthy living within their homes by preparing balanced meals using locally available ingredients.
Health experts have consistently supported similar messages, noting that balanced diets rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, legumes, and whole grains help reduce the risk of chronic illnesses while strengthening the body’s immune system.
Nutrition specialists further advise limiting processed foods, sugary beverages, alcohol consumption, and excessive intake of saturated fats as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Public health advocates believe that increased nutrition awareness could significantly reduce Nigeria’s growing burden of non-communicable diseases, which continue to account for a substantial proportion of illnesses and deaths nationwide.
Experts also argue that improving dietary habits would complement government investments in healthcare by reducing preventable hospital admissions and improving productivity.
The campaign aligns with broader efforts by governments, health organizations, and nutrition professionals to encourage healthier lifestyles through education, preventive healthcare, and community engagement.
Observers say initiatives like Dr. Soludo’s could help reshape public attitudes toward food by promoting traditional Nigerian diets that have sustained generations while reducing dependence on processed alternatives.
As food prices continue to rise across the country, stakeholders believe educating families on affordable nutritious options will become increasingly important in ensuring food security and protecting public health.
Many nutrition experts have also called for stronger collaboration between governments, schools, healthcare institutions, agricultural agencies, and civil society organizations to expand nutrition education and encourage healthier food systems.
Such partnerships, they argue, would strengthen efforts to reduce malnutrition while supporting local agricultural production and improving national health outcomes.
For Dr. Nonye Soludo, the message remains clear: healthier food choices begin at home. By embracing natural, locally produced foods and adopting healthier lifestyles, Nigerians can improve their quality of life, reduce the risk of preventable diseases, and build healthier communities for future generations.
Sources
- Anambra State Government
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Nigeria
- Nutrition Society of Nigeria
