By Ijeoma UKAZU
As Nigeria marks the 2023 Children’s Day, Nestlé Nigeria, a food and beverage company has pledged its commitment to improving the health, nutrition, and education of Nigerian children.
To commemorate this year’s celebration, the company has provided children in the 30 Nestlé for Healthier Kids beneficiary schools with learning materials.
Nestlé Nigeria has been at the forefront of efforts to help children live healthier, happier lives through research, product innovation, food fortification, nutrition education, and promotion of an active lifestyle.
The company in collaboration with stakeholders has reached children every year through several initiatives including Nestle for Healthier Kids, N4HK, a school-based nutrition education program. The program aims to help children imbibe healthy habits including good nutrition, good hygiene practices, healthy hydration, and active lifestyles through adequate physical activity.
One beneficiary of the program, Jamil Agbonika, a primary 5 pupil from Gadonasco Science Primary School Abuja, expressing his delight, said, “I have enjoyed the N4HK teachings in my class. I have been taught about the different classes of food, food hygiene, food nutrients, and digestion as well as physical exercises. I have also learned that I need to eat less of snacks and more of fruits and vegetables, exercise more and drink lots of water to be healthy now and in the future”.
Jamil who aspires to be a medical doctor in the future said, “My favorite topic is hygiene and the need to keep germs away. I have shared this lesson with my friends and family members, and they now know the importance of hand washing and proper washing of food before cooking and eating”, he added.
Speaking on Children’s Day, Nestlé Nigeria’s Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Mrs. Victoria Uwadoka said, “I wish all Nigerian children a very Happy Children’s Day! This annual event gives us the opportunity to celebrate them and to reflect on how to enhance their health and well-being. At Nestlé, we believe that Nigerian children have the potential to demonstrate the greatness of this country. Attaining the nation of our dreams begins with prioritizing and advancing the development and welfare of children.
“We are, therefore, delighted to collaborate with our partners to prepare them for the future through the Nestlé for Healthier Kids initiative. We trust that the learning materials we are providing them with today will go a long way towards making their learning experience more exciting”.