Wife of Lagos State Governor and the Special Guest of Honour, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (3rd left), Managing Director, Friesland Campina WAMCO Nigeria PLC, Mr. Rahul Colaco (2nd left), the Corporate Affairs Director, Mrs. Ore Famurewa (3rd right), Marketing Director, Mr. Tarang Gupta (2nd right), Senior Scientist, Global Nutrition Development, Friesland Campina Innovation Centre, Netherlands, Dr. Anne Shaafsma (right) and President, Pediatric Association of Nigeria, Prof. Adebiyi Olowu (left) during the 10th Nutritional Seminar with the theme: “Physical Growth and Brain Development of the Nigerian Child; the Challenge of our time” organized by Friesland Campina Wamco Nigeria PLC, at the Cassic Event Centre, Oregun on Friday, August 21, 2015.
She also called for the strengthening of collaboration with government and other NGOs to eradicate the social evils of child trafficking, child labour, child abuse, fake orphanage homes and the violation of child right laws.
She spoke at the maiden National Conference of ASOHON, held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday.
Mrs. Ambode commended the initiatives of orphanage homes and other care-givers in the country, however, urging them to promote awareness and respect for laws relating to rights of children.
She said that care giving for orphans and other challenged children, was a humanitarian task that comes with pain and personal sacrifice.
She said, “You took it upon yourselves within limited available resources, to keep and protect these vulnerable ones, wiping their tears when they cry; feeding them when they are hungry; offering them a shoulder upon which to rest their tired heads, putting smiles on their forlorn faces; and above all reassuring them that life is worth living after all.
“Your contributions to society can neither be measured nor quantified. It is my prayer that the good Lord, who delights in service to the less privileged, richly rewards you all.”
Earlier in her welcome address, National President of the association, Rev. (Mrs.) Dele George said that ASOHON can and will assist the federal, state and local governments to add value, effectiveness and excellence to the social welfare system, as it pertains to the well-being of all vulnerable children.
According to her, “ASOHON is not in existence to truncate the efforts of government, we are here to collaborate and cooperate as well as consolidate on the efforts of government. Our goal is to chart a course for our industry and brainstorm on actionable solutions to challenges confronting our orphanages and our vulnerable children.”
George who said that ASOHON would partner the government to make the issue of baby factories a thing of the past, urged all homes to register with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to be full members of the association.
She used the opportunity to appeal to all levels of government, to assist the homes for the sake of the children.
Speakers at the Conference include civil rights activist, Barrister Festus Keyamo and Secretary of ASOHON, Rev. (Dr.) Gabriel Oyediji.
She gave the advice while declaring open the 10th Nutritional Seminar of Frieslandcampina Wamco Nigeria, at Oregun, Ikeja on Friday. She said some mothers are either not sure of what nutrition to give to their children or completely unaware of this significant period of a child’s life.
She said that the first five years of a child’s life were the most critical that sets the stage for the child’s intellectual development, lifelong health, as well as vulnerability.
“Certainly, the brain development and mental health of a child is essential and it should never be neglected. Science reveals that there is no other period of a child’s life when nutrition has such profound impact as compared to the first five years of a child’s life. This is a critical period that sets the stage for a child’s intellectual development, lifelong health, a period of enormous potentials as well as vulnerability”, Mrs. Ambode said.
She said the theme of the seminar; “Physical Growth and Brain Development of the Nigerian Child; The Challenge of Our Time” was apt, just as she urged healthcare practitioners to deploy the knowledge acquired from the seminar in their daily practice, she commended the company for its nutritional brands which have become household names in Nigeria.
In his welcome address, Rahul Colaco, the Managing Director, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc, reiterated the company’s commitment to quality diary nutrition; part of which includes providing adequate up to date researched information on child nutrition, thereby helping to reduce the incidences of malnutrition amongst women and children in Nigeria.
According to Colaco, “FrieslandCampina invests huge funds in research and development of quality and affordable products to cater for the various needs of the consumer. So we are confident of our support to Healthcare Practitioners in ensuring proper child nutrition.”
The 10th Nutrition Seminar held across key cities, including: lbadan, Abuja, Port-Harcourt, Enugu and now Lagos, reinforced the importance of public private partnership in responding to key national issues, particularly in the nutritional development of the Nigerian child.
