NIGERIA – Millers for Nutrition, a coalition aimed at enhancing access to nutritious foods nationwide, made its grand entrance onto the national stage at the 9th Agrofood Nigeria Exhibition and Summit.
With support from founding partners like BASF, DSM-Firmenich, Mühlenchemie, Piramal, BioAnalyt, and Sanku, as well as strategic input and investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the coalition aims to revolutionize access to nutritious foods globally.
The launch was graced by esteemed figures including Sugra Mahmood, Director of Nutrition at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Faniran Sanjo of the Ministry of Budget & Economic Planning, and Eva Edwards, Director of NAFDAC’s Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FSAN).
The primary objective of Millers for Nutrition is to facilitate the widespread fortification of staple foods, such as flour, cooking oil, and rice, ensuring they are enriched with essential vitamins and minerals.
By engaging millers, the backbone of food processing in Nigeria, the coalition aims to combat malnutrition and uplift public health standards.
Through free technical support and access to resources, Millers for Nutrition empowers its members to fortify their products effectively, reducing compliance risks while enhancing production efficiency.
Celebrating industry leaders
The launch event also served as a platform to celebrate the 2024 MFI Awards winners, recognizing exemplary efforts in fortifying food products. Among the esteemed awardees were Crown Flour Mills LTD (OLAM), Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC, Raffles Oil LFTZ Enterprises, and Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc.
Additionally, DUFIL Prima Foods and WACOT-Big Bull were acknowledged as pioneers in rice fortification.
Millers for Nutrition transcends national borders, with operations spanning eight countries across Africa and Asia.
Partners of the coalition have pledged to reach one billion people with adequately fortified rice, edible oil, and flour by 2026, marking a significant milestone in the global fight against malnutrition.
NAFDAC expressed gratitude for the launch of Millers for Nutrition, acknowledging its potential to enhance the capacity of millers and promote sustained behavioral change among food processors.
“We key into the Millers for Nutrition target of positively impacting the nutrition of one billion people by 2026 across the eight countries they operate including Nigeria,” said Eva Edwards, speaking on behalf of Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, Director General of NAFDAC.
Other industry leaders reaffirmed their commitment to fortification excellence and product quality. Boye Olusanya, Group Managing Director of Flour Mills of Nigeria, assured consumers of their dedication to enriching all brands with necessary vitamins and minerals, inviting other millers to join the coalition.
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