Emeritus Professor Bede Ibe has called for greater use of home-made nutritional food to address child malnutrition and stunted growth across Nigerian communities.
Ibe made the call in Enugu during the 12th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Association of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NAPGHAN).
The four-day event, tagged “NAPGHAN Coal City 2026,” is themed “Global Evidence, Local Solutions: Advancing Paediatric, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition in Nigeria.”
The conference brings together medical professionals and other stakeholders to discuss challenges affecting children’s health and nutrition in Nigeria.
Ibe Urges Nigeria to Embrace Local Nutrition
Ibe, a recently retired professor from the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, said Nigeria should look inward when addressing child malnutrition.
According to him, the economic downturn affecting many families has contributed to worsening nutrition challenges among children.
He said the situation could also create an opportunity to strengthen the use of locally available foods.
Ibe argued that dependence on foreign packaged or therapeutic food does not provide a sustainable solution for Nigerian children.
He instead called for stronger support for home-made nutritional food prepared from locally available ingredients.
The professor also stressed the importance of exclusive breastfeeding before introducing complementary foods.
He recommended exclusive breastfeeding for about six months before parents introduce suitable home-made complementary meals.
Ibe said families should continue providing children with nutritious meals containing local food components, vegetables and fruits as they grow.
He added that such meals should remain part of children’s diets when they begin attending school.
The professor also said children could benefit from properly prepared local foods where school feeding programmes exist.
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Professor Advocates Local Therapeutic Foods
Ibe also addressed the treatment of children already affected by malnutrition.
He said locally prepared foods should play a greater role in nutritional treatment where appropriate.
According to him, governments, organisations and communities can support local industries to produce nutritious therapeutic foods.
He said such products could contain locally sourced nutrients and fibre.
Ibe believes stronger local production could make nutritious foods more accessible to families and children.
He also linked the approach to agricultural development and food production.
His proposal would create demand for locally produced crops while encouraging industries to process them into nutritious food products.
He said this could help Nigeria develop a stronger local nutrition system instead of relying heavily on imported products.
The professor further argued that countries should develop solutions suited to their own populations and food systems.
He urged stakeholders to support Nigeria’s ability to produce nutritious and therapeutic foods locally.
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Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding
Ibe placed particular emphasis on breastfeeding as part of efforts to improve child nutrition.
He said strengthening exclusive breastfeeding should come before the introduction of complementary foods.
After about six months, he recommended introducing suitable home-made meals alongside breastfeeding.
The professor said parents should make use of locally available food ingredients when preparing meals for growing children.
He also encouraged families to include vegetables and fruits in children’s diets.
The approach, he said, could help families respond to nutritional needs despite the economic difficulties affecting households.
The emphasis on local foods also featured prominently in the conference’s broader focus on developing solutions that fit Nigeria’s realities.
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NAPGHAN Seeks Indigenous Nutrition Policies
President of NAPGHAN, Professor Felix Akinbami, also called for stronger government action on child malnutrition.
Akinbami said government should work with professional associations and other relevant bodies to develop indigenous policies and programmes.
He said such measures could help reduce the growing burden of malnutrition and stunted growth among Nigerian children.
The NAPGHAN president also linked the challenge to the country’s youthful population.
According to him, more than half of Nigeria’s population is below the age of 18.
He said the difficult economic situation has further complicated nutrition challenges for many families.
Akinbami also identified poor awareness of the benefits of home-made foods as another issue that requires attention.
He therefore called for greater public education alongside government policies.
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Conference to Address Child Health Challenges
Beyond nutrition, the NAPGHAN conference is expected to examine several other issues affecting children’s health.
Akinbami said delegates would discuss Hepatitis B among children during the event.
The conference will also examine gut-brain dysfunctions and other paediatric health concerns.
He said participants would consider evidence and clinical experiences that could improve treatment.
A communique is also expected from the conference.
According to Akinbami, the document will promote best clinical practices for healthcare facilities.
The recommendations could provide guidance for professionals working with children and families.
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Tony Onyia Highlights Professional Collaboration
Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Dr Tony Onyia, said the conference attracted experienced professionals from different parts of the world.
Onyia, who serves as Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee at UNTH, said the event provides an opportunity for medical professionals to exchange knowledge.
He said the panel sessions would provide professional and clinical perspectives on the issues under discussion.
The conference also offers participants opportunities to build professional relationships.
Onyia said networking could lead to new partnerships within the healthcare sector.
He also encouraged participants to explore Enugu and experience its cultural heritage.
The LOC chairman acknowledged the support received from sponsors and the management of UNTH.
He specifically appreciated the Chief Medical Director of UNTH, Professor Obinna Onodugo, for supporting the conference.
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Local Solutions Remain Central to Conference
The theme of the 2026 NAPGHAN conference places emphasis on combining global evidence with solutions suited to Nigeria.
Ibe’s call for home-made nutritional food reflects that approach.
His position focuses on using resources that families and communities can access locally.
It also places agriculture, food production and child nutrition within the same conversation.
For the professor, stronger local food production could support both families and industries.
Local manufacturers could process available agricultural products into nutritious foods and therapeutic products.
This could also create additional opportunities for farmers and food producers.
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Economic Pressure Raises Nutrition Concerns
The speakers at the conference highlighted the relationship between economic conditions and access to nutritious food.
Many families face difficult choices when household resources become limited.
Akinbami said the economic situation has contributed to the nutrition challenge.
Ibe therefore urged families to make better use of available local food resources.
His proposal centres on preparing balanced meals from locally sourced ingredients.
He also encouraged government and organisations to support communities with policies that strengthen food production.
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Experts Push for Stronger Child Nutrition Awareness
The conference also highlights the need for greater awareness about children’s nutritional needs.
Medical professionals can help families understand appropriate feeding practices and nutrition choices.
Public education could also complement government interventions aimed at reducing malnutrition.
Ibe’s emphasis on breastfeeding and complementary feeding forms part of this broader discussion.
The professor wants families to rely more on nutritious foods prepared from locally available ingredients.
Akinbami, meanwhile, called for collaboration between government and professional organisations.
Together, these approaches could help develop nutrition policies that respond to the realities faced by Nigerian families.
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NAPGHAN Conference Brings Health Professionals Together
The four-day event provides a platform for specialists to exchange knowledge on paediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition.
Participants are expected to discuss clinical challenges and possible solutions.
The organisers also see the conference as an avenue for professional networking.
Onyia said the LOC worked to bring experienced panelists together for the programme.
He thanked members of the organising committee for their commitment to the event.
He also expressed appreciation to sponsors whose contributions supported the conference.
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Call for Sustainable Nutrition Solutions
The call for home-made nutritional food comes as health professionals continue to examine ways of improving child health in Nigeria.
Ibe’s position is that Nigeria should strengthen local solutions rather than depend heavily on foreign packaged nutrition products.
He called for cooperation among government agencies, communities, families and industries.
Such collaboration, he said, could strengthen local food production while supporting children’s nutritional needs.
Akinbami also stressed the importance of developing indigenous policies and programmes.
The NAPGHAN conference will continue examining these issues alongside other paediatric health concerns.
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Focus on Locally Available Food
For Ibe, the way forward requires Nigeria to make better use of its own food resources.
He said families can prepare nutritious meals from local ingredients instead of depending solely on packaged alternatives.
He also called for stronger support for industries that can transform local agricultural products into nutritious foods.
The approach could support food production while improving access to locally made nutritional products.
At the NAPGHAN conference, experts are expected to continue exploring practical approaches to improving child health.
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Health Experts Seek Practical Solutions
The conference theme, “Global Evidence, Local Solutions,” underscores the organisers’ focus on practical healthcare strategies.
For child nutrition, the discussions have highlighted breastfeeding, complementary feeding and locally prepared meals.
They have also addressed the role of government, communities and industries.
The speakers believe coordinated action remains important in addressing malnutrition and stunted growth.
The event also provides an avenue for professionals to share experiences and strengthen clinical practices.
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Ibe’s Message to Families and Government
Ibe’s central message is for Nigeria to look inward when addressing child nutrition.
He urged families to strengthen breastfeeding and introduce suitable complementary foods at the appropriate stage.
He also encouraged communities and governments to support local food industries.
According to him, this can help create a stronger connection between agriculture, food production and child nutrition.
The professor’s call formed one of the key messages at the NAPGHAN Coal City 2026 conference in Enugu.
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Conference Highlights Need for Local Action
The discussions at NAPGHAN Coal City 2026 highlight the importance of developing nutrition strategies that fit Nigeria’s social and economic realities.
Ibe’s advocacy for home-made nutritional food places local resources at the centre of that conversation.
Akinbami’s call for indigenous policies adds another dimension to the discussion.
Meanwhile, Onyia highlighted the value of professional collaboration and knowledge sharing.
The conference therefore combines clinical discussions with broader conversations about improving children’s health.
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Conclusion
Emeritus Professor Bede Ibe has urged Nigeria to promote home-made nutritional food as part of efforts to address child malnutrition and stunted growth.
He called for stronger exclusive breastfeeding practices and appropriate complementary feeding after about six months.
He also urged government, communities and organisations to support local industries producing nutritious and therapeutic foods.
NAPGHAN President Felix Akinbami called for indigenous policies and stronger cooperation between government and professional bodies.
The conference continues to provide a platform for experts to discuss nutrition and other major paediatric health challenges in Nigeria.
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