SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT, PAEDIATRIC ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (PAN) DR. EKANEM EKURE AT THE ART COMPETITION ON NUTRITION FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL IN CELEBRATION OF 2025 CHILDREN’S DAY
MAY 27, 2025
The chairperson- Dr Mrs. Ronke Soyombo- Chief Executive\Registrar of the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
Co-Chair- Prof. Carl Adams – Vice Chancellor, Cosmopolitan University, Abuja
The Director of Child Health, Family Health Department, Federal Ministry of Health- , here represented
CMD National Hospital, Abuja
UNICEF
WHO
Distinguished guests,
PAN Members
Our Speaker- Dr
Dear students,
esteemed teachers and parents,
members of the press,
ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning.
We thank God that we are here celebrating another children’s day. It is a great honour and privilege to welcome you all to this inspiring event — the art competition on nutrition organized in celebration of the 2025 Children’s Day. The innovative celebration of the Children’s Day with art competition in PAN started last year with the theme immunization. It was an exciting event at the University of Lagos. This year the train moved to Abuja and here we are today at Cosmopolitan University. On behalf of the Paediatric Association of Nigeria, I extend warm greetings and heartfelt congratulations to every child, especially our creative young minds here today.
Children’s Day is a time for us to reflect on the rights, health, and wellbeing of our children. It is a day to amplify their voices, celebrate their talents, and renew our commitment to building a nation where every child thrives in body, mind, and spirit.
The theme of this years children day in Nigeria is “Tapping the Untapped Natural Treasure.” This theme is particularly timely as it speaks to unlocking the child’s potential. Nutrition plays a crucial role in unlocking children’s potential by supporting physical growth, cognitive development, and overall well-being.
As paediatricians and child health advocates, we recognize that proper nutrition provides the necessary building blocks for children to thrive, learn, and meet important developmental milestones.
The 8 major food groups our children need are: Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Protein Foods, Dairy, Legumes, Nuts and Seeds, and Fats and Oils. These groups are important for a balanced diet, ensuring you get a variety of nutrients.
Malnutrition is broadly categorized into two main components: undernutrition and overnutrition. On the overnutrition end, Childhood overweight and obesity are increasing in Nigeria, with studies indicating prevalence rates of 5-12%.
On the other hand, a child has food poverty if he/she consumes 2 or less of these food groups. UNICEF reports that severe child food poverty is a significant issue in Nigeria, with roughly 11 million children under five experiencing it, translating to one in three children. This means these children are consuming limited dietary diversity, primarily reliant on milk or starchy staples, with very little access to fruits, vegetables, or nutrient-dense foods like eggs, fish, or meat. Poor economy, food inflation, insecurity drivers, climate change causing drought and diseases to plants and animals are some of the causes of this sad scenario. Poor nutrition continues to threaten the future of many Nigerian children, leading to stunting, wasting, and weakened immunity. More than 2.9 children in Nigeria, are malnourished. Yet, across our fields, forests, rivers, and farms lie countless nutritious treasures — fruits, vegetables, grains, herbs, seeds, and proteins — many of them underutilized or inaccessible.
We are aware that to scale up Nigeria’s nutrition indicators, a community driven programme – the Nutrition 774 Initiative was launched by the Federal government to give all Nigerian mothers and children access to lifesaving nutrition interventions. But beyond the launching we want to see accelerated implementation. Children can’t wait. There is a short time to intervene in their lives.
Today’s art competition is not just about drawing or painting. It is about reimagining how we nourish our children using what nature has already provided. It is about encouraging children to see the beauty and power of food — wholesome, natural food — as a source of strength, intelligence, and creativity.
Dear students, your artworks are powerful tools. Through them, you are telling stories of hope, health, and possibility. You are showing us the future — one where children do not go hungry, where they grow strong from local foods, foods grown in gardens at home and in school, and where every community understands the value of what grows around them.
To our teachers and parents: thank you for nurturing these young talents and for being champions of good nutrition at home and in school. And to our partners, we thank you for supporting us to use this celebration to ignite awareness, innovation, and action around child nutrition.
As the Paediatric Association of Nigeria, we remain firmly committed to promoting child nutrition, combating malnutrition, and ensuring that every child—regardless of where they live—has the opportunity to grow up healthy, happy, and full of potential. A well-nourished child is not only more likely to survive but also to thrive, to learn, to lead, and to create the Nigeria we all dream of.
As we celebrate today, let us remember: the most precious treasures of a nation are not buried underground — they walk, talk, and dream. They are our children. And the greatest gift we can give them is the opportunity to grow, flourish, and fulfill their potential.
Together, let us tap into the treasures of nature, of culture, and of knowledge — for the health of every Nigerian child.
Thank you, and happy Children’s Day!
PAN ART COMPETITION 2025 WINNERS
1st prize winner – Valerie Emasealu from Aduvie International School Abuja
2nd prize winner – Wonder Obatu, from Appeal Premier International School Abuja
3rd prize winner – Mohammed Abdulkareem, from Govt Secondary School Kuje, Abuja
