NOUN Don Advocates for Traditional Nigerian Diets to Enhance Public Health

Professor Elkenah C. Ndie of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Abuja, has called for the adoption of traditional Nigerian diets as part of efforts to safeguard public health and address food security challenges in the country.

Speaking at the university's 30th Inaugural Lecture, themed “Nursing Science: An Applied Science Care for All”, Ndie highlighted the negative effects of poverty and income inequality on food access, urging policymakers to address these systemic barriers to improve health outcomes.

The professor, from the Faculty of Health Sciences, emphasized the importance of nutrition in public health, particularly in rural areas, and stressed the need for robust nutritional education to guide dietary choices among vulnerable populations.

In his lecture, Ndie also explored the links between drivers’ health and road safety, revealing that many commercial drivers in Nigeria suffer from hypertension, high blood sugar, and other health issues exacerbated by poor diets and substance abuse. He proposed solutions, including workplace clinics for transport companies and mandatory nutritional education for drivers, along with stricter enforcement of drug and alcohol testing.

Professor Ndie also addressed the gender misconceptions surrounding nursing, emphasizing that the profession's nurturing qualities are not confined to any one gender and that nurses are essential to patient care and public health. 

NOUN Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olufemi Peters, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Professor Chinedu Mafiana, commended Professor Ndie’s groundbreaking contributions to healthcare and reaffirmed NOUN’s commitment to advancing education in health sciences.