The Kano State Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs has, at a two-day capacity-building workshop, trained information officers from the state’s 44 Local Government Areas (LGAs) to promote healthier dietary practices to address the growing burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases.
Held on Monday at Babale Suites in Nassarawa GRA, Kano, the workshop was themed: “Promoting Healthy Dietary Practices and Reducing the Incidence of Diet-Related Non-Communicable Diseases in Kano State.”
The training focused on equipping participants with effective communication tools to drive behavioral change and public engagement at the grassroots level.
Speaking at the opening, Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to proactive, people-oriented healthcare.
He emphasized that tackling diet-related diseases through strategic communication and awareness campaigns is a vital part of that vision.
“We have brought in experienced health experts to train our communication officers on strategies that can improve dietary behavior at the community level.
“Health promotion begins with effective communication, and we will continue to invest in our officers because human capital is key to achieving lasting impact,” Waiya said.
He also expressed appreciation to the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN) and the State Ministry of Health for their technical and logistical support.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Usman Bala, underscored the urgency of the initiative, noting the increasing prevalence of diet-related conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, especially in urban and peri-urban areas.
“As the first line of communication in their respective LGAs, these officers have a critical role in influencing public attitudes and improving health outcomes.
“This training supports our broader public health agenda by integrating nutrition education into community-level information strategies,” Bala stated.
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Nura Wali, the State Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at the Primary Healthcare Management Board (PHCMB), highlighted the importance of healthy eating in preventing chronic diseases.
He warned against poor dietary habits and called for collective efforts to foster better nutrition practices across the state.
