NIDO Milk & Soya Unveiled to Address Micronutrient Deficiency in Nigerian Children

Rebecca Ejifoma

The prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies during infancy and early childhood remains a public health concern in Nigeria. Thus, nutritionists have warned that early childhood, especially for children under five, is a critical time for establishing food preferences and dietary habits. During this period, children are said to learn about new foods and develop their food preferences.

Among such foods recommended for early childhood and cognitive development are eggs, fish, beans, lentils, whole grains, vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, lean meats and dairy products like milk.

It is, therefore, to strengthen the nutritional value of every child in the country that Nestlé Nigeria unveiled its dietary food, NIDO Milk & Soya. It is a unique blend of filled milk and soya.

According to the Category and Marketing Manager Dairy, Nestle Nigeria, Ifeanyi Orabuche, soy is a source of Iron and has other essential nutrients like Protein, Calcium, Vitamin C, and dietary fibre which supports digestion.

This innovative product combines the double goodness of milk and soya. It is fortified with iron to provide children with an affordable, delicious and nutritious creamy milk and plant-based complement to beverages and cereals.

“NIDO Milk & Soya is our first affordable fortified dairy and plant blend in the Nigerian market,” he added.

NIDO Milk & Soya joins Nestle’s portfolio of fortified products to help address the high rate of micronutrient deficiency, especially Iron in the country.

NIDO offers a complete range of milk and milk-based products that offer nutrition solutions for each stage of childhood.

In the past 70 years, NIDO has helped mothers around the world to care for and nurture children, the product is popular for providing a nutritional foundation for growth and development.

NIDO products feature instant dry whole milk with Vitamins A & D. It is a good source of calcium to help children develop and maintain healthy bones and teeth.

NIDO Kinder 1+ is non-fat powdered milk that is fortified with Prebio 1, a prebiotic fibre that benefits a child’s digestive system.

According to the Journal of Public Health in Africa, the prevalence of anaemia among school-age children in Nigeria is 71 per cent and among women, 47.3 per cent.

NIDO Milk & Soya Instant Powder Mix was developed by local experts in Nestlé’s R&D Centre in Abidjan and is produced locally in Nigeria using 100 per cent locally sourced soybeans.

It is a result of Nestlé’s progress in product innovation and renovation to meet the growing consumer demand for affordable nutrition options that also create societal value.

The Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability lead at Nestlé Nigeria, Victoria Uwadoka said, “At Nestlé, our decisions are guided by our purpose of unlocking the power of food to enhance quality of life for everyone today and for future generations.”

With this new product, Nestle is helping to sustain a steady source of revenue to improve the livelihoods of the local farmers who supply the soybeans used in the production of NIDO Milk & Soya.

She is confident that the launch of NIDO is part of Nestlé Nigeria’s ongoing commitment to offer affordable, wholesome and nutritious options for consumers across the country.

Uwadoka emphasised: “It provides long-term benefits that are good for individuals and families, good for communities and good for the planet.”

For over 62 years, she noted, Nestlé has been part of the daily nutrition of millions of households in Nigeria.

As one of the largest food and beverage companies in Africa, Uwadoka boasts that Nestle consistently uses its research and development capabilities to unlock the power of food to enhance the well-being of individuals and families.