Right To Protein, an awareness campaign of the U.S.
Soybean Export Council (USSEC) targeted at educating people about the importance of
adequate protein consumption for better nutrition, health, and wellbeing, is set to hold its
inaugural conference in Nigeria.
The Right To Protein Nigeria Conference themed, Right To Protein: Protein for a Sustainable
Tomorrow, is slated to hold at Marriott Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, on Thursday, June 22, 2023, at
10.00AM and will be Live streamed on YouTube: @RightToProteinNigeria to a global audience.
Dr (Mrs.) Jummai Adamu Tutuwa, Director-General of the Federal Institute of Industrial
Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) Lagos and an Associate Professor of Industrial Biochemistry will be
the Special Guest of Honour.
Dr. Olubukola Omobuwa, a fellow of the West African College of Physicians and the current
acting Head of the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Osun
(UNIOSUN), will do justice to the conference theme as the keynote speaker.
This will be followed by a highly engaging panel discussion session moderated by the cerebral
Dr. Mrs Ifeoma Akeredolu. PhD, RD., Centre Coordinator, Yabatech UNESCO-UNEVOC Centre
and Lecturer, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos and will
feature Kevin Roepke, Regional Director, South Asia and Sub Saharan Africa (SAASSA),
USSEC.
Other members of the panel are Prof. Wasiu Afolabi, President, Nutrition Society of Nigeria
(NSN) and a Professor of Community Nutrition in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics and
current Dean, College of Food Science and Human Ecology, Federal University of Agriculture
Abeokuta, Ogun State, and Dr. Beatrice Oganah Ikujenyo (PhD), Associate Professor of
Nutrition, Department of Home Economics, Lagos State University of Education, Oto-Ijanikin,
Lagos.
The above panellists who are all key stakeholders in the nutrition sector, not just in Nigeria but
from other parts of the world, will be discussing salient matters around nutrition, increasing
protein consumption, its effect on productivity, impact on ensuring a sustainable future for
Nigeria and Africa at large and ultimately, ensuring that everyone has an actual right to protein.
Announcing the agenda for the inaugural Right To Protein Nigeria Conference, Dr. Michael
David, Country Team Lead, Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa, USSEC said that the conference is
aimed at bringing together key stakeholders in the food, health, nutrition, academia, regulatory
and soybean value chain to deepen discourse around protein consumption in Nigeria. He further
emphasized that the upcoming conference would focus on the need to encourage Nigerians to
regularly consume proteins bearing in mind the invaluable impact protein has on the overall
health of a person– eventually leading to a more productive workforce.
He said: “We are excited to be leading the narrative in changing Nigerians’ perception of protein
consumption while also championing a behavioral shift towards optimizing consumption of a
variety of protein sources including animal-based and plant-based protein, especially those
options that can be easily accessed by and are relatively more affordable for most Nigerians.”
“This conference aims to underline our motive of bringing together experts and individuals
passionate about nutrition to discuss the importance of adequate protein consumption for better
nutrition, health, and wellbeing. Key learnings from the event will empower attendees with
knowledge, evidence-based insights, and practical strategies needed to make informed choices
regarding their protein intake, ultimately supporting their overall wellbeing,” said Dr. David.
Right to Protein campaign was launched in Lagos, Nigeria earlier this year in February with a
media roundtable conference geared towards officially announcing the campaign as well as
celebrating Nigeria’s inaugural Protein Day.
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About Right To Protein Campaign
Right To Protein is an awareness campaign to educate people about the importance of adequate protein consumption
for better nutrition, health, and wellbeing. The campaign aspires to build public knowledge of different types of protein
sources, to meet larger nutritional security goals. Right To Protein is supported by several like-minded organizations,
institutions, academicians, professionals, and individuals. The campaign is exclusively driven by the U.S. Soybean
Export Council (USSEC). For more information and to subscribe to our news alerts, please visit
www.righttoprotein.com
As a protein awareness campaign, ‘Right To Protein’ emphasizes the role of protein in supporting good health,
reducing malnutrition, and promoting sustainable development. Right to Protein campaign also aims to encourage
governments, businesses, and other organizations to prioritize protein production, distribution, and consumption in
their policies and practices. This can include promoting sustainable agriculture and animal husbandry practices,
supporting research and development in the field of protein science, and ensuring that people have access to a
variety of affordable and nutritious protein sources. The campaign also raises awareness about the global burden of
protein deficiency, a significant public health concern, particularly in developing nations. By promoting the Right to
Protein, the goal is to improve nutrition security to improve health outcomes, reduce poverty and hunger, and support
sustainable development.
The initiative is open for those who would like to join and/or contribute in any capacity, including providing knowledge,
technical support or as promotion partners. If you share our vision, reach out to us via our social channels to know
how you can help.
