Uchenna Cecil izuora
Health advocates and public policy experts have called on Nigerians to drastically reduce their salt and sugar intake, warning that high consumption is fuelling a surge in non‑communicable diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. The appeal was made at the Mirror Newspaper Conference and Excellence Awards for Heroes of Our Time, held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Alausa, Ikeja.
Delivering the welcome address, legal icon and Chairman of the occasion, Asiwaju Kunle Kalejaye (SAN), emphasised that preserving good health must be an individual and collective responsibility. He urged the public to be more conscious of their food choices, recommending that people cut back on salt and sugary drinks, drink more water, and minimise consumption of processed and canned beverages. Kalejaye also commended The Mirror Newspaper for upholding integrity in its reporting and encouraged Nigerians to remain committed to fairness and justice in public life.
The conference, themed “X‑Raying the Salt: Safeguarding National Health,” explored how dietary habits affect national well‑being and the economic burden of preventable illnesses. A keynote address was delivered on behalf of the Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Akinbode Oluwafemi. Represented by CAPPA’s Associate Director for Climate and Extractives, Olamide Martins, Oluwafemi described excessive salt intake as a “silent killer” behind many hypertension‑related deaths in Nigeria.
He revealed that the average Nigerian consumes about 10 grams of salt per day, twice the World Health Organization’s recommended maximum of less than 5 grams. The speaker also noted that between 30 and 40 per cent of Nigerian adults live with hypertension, which significantly raises the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure. Many sudden deaths often tagged as “unexplained” were linked to undiagnosed or poorly managed chronic conditions tied to daily diet.
Martins highlighted systemic factors such as insecurity in rural farming areas, inadequate transportation, soaring food prices, and growing dependence on ultra‑processed foods as key contributors to unhealthy eating patterns. He pointed out that everyday items like seasoning cubes and packaged snacks pack high levels of sodium, greatly increasing daily salt intake. Despite these challenges, he welcomed policy efforts such as proposals for mandatory salt‑reduction targets and front‑of‑pack warning labels designed to reduce national salt consumption by up to 30 per cent over time.
The Editor‑in‑Chief of The Mirror Newspaper, Rev. Stanley Ihedigbo, noted that the media has a critical role to play in shaping public awareness of health issues. He said the conference was designed not only to spotlight the dangers of high salt intake, but also to recognise individuals whose quiet dedication has advanced national development. The “Heroes of Our Time” awards, he explained, honour men and women across farming, manufacturing, public service, and civil society whose contributions are often overlooked.
Spiritual father of the event, Shaykh Billal Akinola Husayn Akeugberu, Grand Chief Imam of Oyoland, linked healthy living to moral and spiritual discipline. He encouraged Nigerians to adopt lifestyles that protect both physical and spiritual well‑being and offered prayers for the nation’s health, unity, and prosperity.
Participants at the conference pledged stronger collaboration among government ministries, regulatory agencies, the private sector, civil society organisations, and the media to craft and enforce more effective public health and food‑policy measures. The highlight of the afternoon was the presentation of awards to a diverse group of leaders and institutions.
Among the recipients were the Alagodo of Agodo Kingdom, His Majesty Oba Mudashiru Salaudeen Odejobi; Secretary of Conference, Methodist Church Nigeria, The Rt. Rev’d Dr. Babatunde Abiodun Taiwo; Bishop of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Idanre Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr. Matthew Adenipekun Falade; and National and International Coordinator of the Africa Farming Project (AFP), Dr. Bright Isaac Okwu.
Others honoured included Engr. Amos Semasa of the Lagos State Ferry Services; Bishop (Col.) Paul Vincent of Persistence Works TV Network; Sir (Engr.) Humphrey Osita; Engr. Olasunkanmi Okusaga of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA); AIG Simeon Akpanudom of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID); and the Director of Media and Advocacy at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The list also featured Ambassador Iruoma Ofortube of the Thyroid Awareness and Support Initiative (TASI); Obong Churchill Tom Udoh of Westgate Enterprise Group; Mr. Sunday Michael Ogwu of Pinnacle Daily; Mrs. Victoria Ibezim Ohaeri of Spaces for Change; ASP Dr. Ebenezer Emmanuel Valentine; Ms. Abimbola Adebakin of Advantage Health Africa; Hon. Francis Barthlomew Chima (OmoBarca); UK‑based broadcaster Richard Edoki; Mr. Obinna Chima of ThisDay Newspapers; and Engr. (Chief) Sir Bamidele Babatunde Anjorin of NUMTEN.
Additional awardees included Mr. Mojeed Alabi of DevReporting; Nze Chidigodo Okpara of Marine Concept Ltd; UK‑based Nigerian Mr. David Mozie; and Mr. Kingsley Ogbonna of Precise Platform.
The conference succeeded in merging a strong public health advocacy message with a celebration of everyday nation builders, reinforcing The Mirror Newspaper’s dual commitment to informing the public and promoting a healthier, more resilient society.