NAFDAC launches 'Read the Food Label' campaign to tackle diet-related diseases. June 26, 2026 By Robert Egbe The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched a nationwide "Read the Food Label" campaign aimed at encouraging Nigerians to understand the nutritional information on packaged foods before purchasing, as part of efforts to curb Nigeria's growing burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The campaign, unveiled in Abuja on Friday, is being implemented with the cooperation of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the University of Abuja, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), the Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL), the Nutrition Society of Nigeria and other development partners. Speaking at the launch, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, described food labels as powerful public health tools that provide consumers with vital information about the safety and nutritional quality of the foods they consume. She said the campaign seeks to institutionalise a culture of reading food labels to help Nigerians make healthier dietary choices and reduce the risk of diseases linked to poor nutrition. "Reading food labels should become a shared responsibility," Adeyeye said. "Everyone who purchases food from supermarkets or markets should make it a habit to read food labels before making a purchase." Recalling a personal experience, the NAFDAC boss said she developed the habit of reading food labels after her son reacted to a food additive while they lived in the United States. "Whenever I go shopping, I immediately check the food label. I look at the sugar content, the sodium level and other nutritional information because food labels communicate essential health, safety and nutritional information that enables consumers to purchase, prepare, store and consume food safely," she said. According to her, the campaign comes at a critical time as Nigeria grapples with a rising burden of non-communicable diseases fuelled by unhealthy diets and the increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods. Citing WHO statistics, Adeyeye said non-communicable diseases account for about 29 per cent of all deaths in Nigeria, with cardiovascular diseases responsible for 11 per cent, cancers four per cent, chronic respiratory diseases two per cent and diabetes one per cent. She noted that many of these illnesses are associated with excessive consumption of salt, sugar, saturated fats, trans fats and highly processed foods. "In today's increasingly complex food environment, consumers are confronted with an overwhelming number of food choices. The ability to understand and apply information on food labels has therefore never been more important," she said. She added that the campaign forms part of NAFDAC's broader efforts to improve nutrition literacy, promote healthier living and sustain behavioural change among Nigerians. The WHO endorsed the initiative. Represented by Technical Officer for Nutrition, Dr Pinda Wakama, WHO Country Representative Dr Pavel Ursu said Nigeria's growing burden of non-communicable diseases underscored the need for nationwide interventions that empower people to make healthier food choices. He described the "Read the Food Label" campaign as both timely and strategic, saying it would improve nutrition literacy and help consumers better understand the nutritional information provided on packaged foods. Similarly, the Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Akinbode Oluwafemi, welcomed the initiative, saying it was a timely intervention that would empower consumers to make informed food choices. Represented by CAPPA's Associate Director and Healthy Food Policy Manager, Abayomi Sarumi, Oluwafemi said aggressive marketing of ultra-processed foods and beverages had made consumer awareness increasingly important. "Nigerian consumers are increasingly exposed to aggressively and deceptively marketed ultra-processed food and beverage products, the consumption of which is worsening Nigeria's non-communicable diseases burden," he said. "Reading food labels helps consumers identify products that contain high levels of sugar, salt, trans fats and other nutrients of concern that increase the risk of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, stroke and heart disease." He reaffirmed CAPPA's commitment to supporting initiatives that promote healthier food environments. Also speaking, Dr Emmanuel Sokpo, Country Director of the Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), stated that the campaign would help foster a culture of informed decision-making and promote healthier eating habits. He described it as "a critical step towards creating a food environment where people are empowered with the information they need to make healthier choices, contributing to stronger food systems and improved health outcomes for all Nigerians." The Executive Director of Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) Nigeria, Mrs Nanlop Ogbureke, stated that the initiative would enhance consumer protection by enabling Nigerians to understand the nutritional content of packaged foods. She noted that although food labels contain valuable health information, many consumers still struggle to interpret them because of technical language, small print and complex nutritional information. "As Nigeria continues to grapple with rising diet-related diseases, consumer awareness has become more important than ever," she said. The Lead Investigator on Cardiovascular Health at the University of Abuja, Prof. Dike Ojji, said unhealthy diets have become a major driver of cardiovascular diseases and other chronic illnesses in Nigeria. He noted that the university's research had contributed significantly to the development of national policies on nutrient profiling and front-of-pack food labelling. "The University of Abuja has been at the forefront of ensuring proper food labelling in Nigeria. Our research findings have been highly valuable in developing national policies on nutrient profiling and front-of-pack food labelling," Ojji said. He pledged the institution's continued support for efforts aimed at improving nutrition awareness and healthier food choices. Similarly, the President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Prof. Salisu Maiwada, said nutrition professionals across the country would take the campaign to schools, communities and local government areas. "We have members in every local government area of Nigeria. We are present in schools and communities, and we will take this campaign to every part of the country," he said. Stakeholders at the event expressed optimism that the campaign would encourage Nigerians to pay greater attention to food labels, improve dietary habits and contribute to reducing the country's growing burden of diet-related illnesses. Post Views: 106

Resolve to Save Lives appoints Angela Sun to Board of Directors. * March 30, 2026 MARCH 30, 2026 - Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) announced today that Angela Sun, Principal at Hyland Ventures, joined its Board of Directors and the organization's Audit & Finance Committee effective March 29, 2026. "We're delighted to welcome Angela Sun to our global Board," said Dr. Tom Frieden, President and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives. "Angela brings exceptional strategic thinking, financial expertise, and deep experience driving results. Her perspective will strengthen our ability to tackle the world's leading causes of death and disability." Ms. Sun currently serves on the Board of Directors of The Western Union Company, Cushman & Wakefield, and Maxim Crane Works. Previously, she was Chief Operating Officer and Partner at Alpha Edison, a Los Angeles-based venture capital firm. She spent ten years at Bloomberg LP, most recently serving as Global Head of Strategy and Corporate Development. She also oversaw Bloomberg Institute, the education business serving 1,500 universities worldwide. From 2008 to 2014, she was Chief-of-Staff to Bloomberg's CEO, where she led corporate-wide strategic planning, new business development, growth efforts in emerging markets and Asia, and the creation of Bloomberg Enterprise. Prior to joining Bloomberg, L.P., Ms. Sun served as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Bloomberg Administration, where she oversaw a citywide portfolio of economic development agencies and led urban planning and real estate projects. "I'm honored to be stepping into this role at such a critical time when effective public health systems are more important than ever," said Ms. Sun. "Resolve to Save Lives stands out for its focus on durable, country-led solutions, and I'm excited to support efforts that bring about meaningful change and save lives." "Angela brings critical cross-sector experience to our work with partners to create and scale solutions to the world's deadliest health threats," said Dr. Farzad Mostashari, Board Chair of Resolve to Save Lives and CEO of Aledade. "We deeply value her ability to bridge sectors and bring a disciplined, thoughtful approach to complex challenges. I look forward to her contributions to our active, committed board." Ms. Sun graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College and holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School. She serves on a number of non-profit, arts, and philanthropic organizations: she is a Trustee of Second Stage Theatre, an Elected Director of the Harvard Alumni Board, Class Chair of the John Harvard Society, and a former Director of Women's World Banking. Sun is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the World Economic Forum, and serves on the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights Advisory Council. To learn more about Resolve to Save Lives' Board of Directors, visit: https://resolvetosavelives.org/about/team/ Media contact. About Resolve to Save Lives. Resolve to Save Lives is a global health organization that partners locally and globally to create and scale solutions to the world's deadliest health threats. Since 2017, Resolve to Save Lives Inc. has worked with governments and other partners in more than 60 countries and supported programs that will prevent more than 9 million heart attack deaths. To find out more, visit: resolvetosavelives.org or LinkedIn.