Guardian

THE management of Dufil Prima Foods Plc, makers of Indomie Instant Noodles, has charged the beneficiaries of Indomie National Postgraduate Nutrition Scholarship to ensure that everyone in the country is nutrition conscious.

The Publicity Manager of the company, Mr. Tope Asiwaju, who addressed the awardees during the cheque presentation ceremony held at company’s corporate head office in Surulere Lagos, decried the fact that most Nigerians do not bother about the nutritional value of the food they eat, adding that such practice does not promote healthy living.

He explained that the company’s expectation for embarking on such project is to produce a critical mass of nutritionists that will help both the state and the country in dietetics.

“The future effect of this programme is what we are working to achieve, we want to have a pool of nutritionists in the country who have gone through adequate tutelage in the area of nutrition to safeguard the nation and help sensitize the public on the need to know the nutritional value of foods that goes into their bodies. We hope that you all will be able to put the award to good use and make our dream a reality,” he said.

It could be recalled that the 11 Indomie MSc award recipients have been given a cash prize of N220, 000 each at the commencement of the programme last year, while a cheque of N150, 000 was presented to each of them at the event to enable them conclude the two-year course.

Some of the awardees are, Yetunde Grace, Mbochi Caroline, Mary Alex Shanu, Bamidele Ayodeji, Amotsuka Joshua, Hannah Chinyere, Adebayo Olubukola, Ajibade Folake and Abe Deborah.

Head of Marketing, Mr. Manpree-Singh, remarked that the MSC Nutrition Scholarship initiative is so dear to the company owing to its long-term benefit. He expressed hope that the recipients will positively impact on the society in the area of dietetics and also provide the needed quality manpower in the country. He assured that Dufil Prima Foods would continue the scholarship programme and also review other means that will yield maximum result.

Also speaking, the Coordinator of the programme, from the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Professor Tunde Oguntona, stated that the 11 awardees, randomly selected to represent the six geo-political zones, are well prepared products adequately nurtured to carry out the expected exercise.

Commending the company for their kind gesture towards the beneficiaries and the nation at large, he assured that the group, which is the third set since inception in 2009, are among the best that can be found in nutrition field. He expressed their willingness to assist the company in the area of research or any other area they may deem fit.

Oguntona, who was the former President, Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), said the scholarship covered the students’ fees, accommodation and research. He said a lot of the beneficiaries wouldn’t have achieved their goal, if not for the intervention of Dufil Prima Foods Plc.