The International Community is observing today as Food Day
It is celebrated on October sixteenth annually to commemorate the
founding date of the Food and Agriculture Organization in 1945.
Food is defined by Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary as any substance
that can be consumed by living organism especially by eating in order
to sustain life, hence the International Food Day which focuses on
creating awareness on the need for collective efforts towards ensuring
food security all over the world, as well as regular consumption of
adequate diet.
The celebration also raises awareness on the crucial need for
successful agriculture policies to be implemented by various
governments, to reduce hunger, create employment opportunities for
the youths in agricultural sector, and increase the exportation of
locally produced food which stimulates rise in the revenue of the state
or nation.
Speaking on the significance of the day, a Dietitian with the
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital Amaku Awka,
Lady Nonye Nnebe called on the people to ensure that they always
consume food with right proportion of all necessary nutrients,
including carbohydrates, protein, fats and oil, vitamin, minerals and
water.
Lady Nonye emphasized the need for daily consumption of fruits and
vegetables, which she said produces minerals and vitamin in large
quantity.
On his part, a Teacher at the Food Science and Technology Department
University of Nigeria Nsukka, Professor Gabriel Okafor, advocated
adequate attention in the area of traditional food processing to
diminish food lose and enhance food security in Nigeria.
Also speaking, the Dean Faculty of Agriculture Nnamdi Azikiwe
University Awka, Professor Earnest Igwe who regretted that Nigeria,
still depends much on imported foods and other goods, commended
Governor Willie Obiano for his various investments in the agricultural
sector, and called on the people to key into agriculture for enough
food for consumption and export in the country.
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