Business
World Health Day: Let’s Ensure Good Nutrition For Children…
…Because #OurChildrenOurResponsibility
World Health Day (WHD) is celebrated every April 7. This is the day that commemorates the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948. WHD aims to focus on a specific theme relevant to public health each year. This year WHO is focusing global attention on urgent actions needed to keep humans and the planet healthy and foster a movement to create societies focused on wellbeing.
Nutrition plays a very crucial role in ensuring humans are healthy. It is an important part of an individual’s overall health and development right from a very young age. Proper and balanced nutrition is directly linked to improved infant, toddler, child, and maternal health and wellbeing. It offers stronger immunity, lowers the risk of health problems such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and improves longevity. Also, healthy children are not just physically strong but also mentally sound. Having balanced and healthy nutrition also helps boost their productivity and helps create more opportunities to break the cycle of poverty eventually.
Malnutrition, in any form, poses a significant threat to human health. Not having proper and balanced nutrition can lead to malnutrition. Currently, the world faces two types of malnutrition – undernourishment, and obesity. The former tends to be more prevalent among the economically disadvantaged populations in low and middle-income countries.
Good nutrition in the early stages of life sets the stage for lifelong health. In the words of Anne Mulcahy, “Investing in early childhood nutrition is a surefire strategy. The returns are incredibly high.”
One of the keys to parenting healthy children is providing them with a healthy and nutritious diet..
Key nutrients in supporting optimal growth and development… When a child consumes a balanced diet, they can develop their physical and mental skills in the present and the future. The benefits impacted by nutrition while the child is young are:
- Ensures proper development of the brain, which helps the neurocognitive process
- Improves a child’s physical health and ensures an active social life as the child grows old.
- Supports the immune system to ably fight against various infectious diseases
Key nutrients for brain development… Phospholipids are known to be essential nutrients for brain development. These nutrients are structural components of neurological systems (neural networks), and deficits during early life can impact brain function long-term. Long-chain omega 3s like DHA and ARA and other brain-supportive nutrients may also benefit proper neural network development and enhance visual acuity and cognition.
Key nutrients for physical growth… Proteins are the building blocks of physical growth. Dietary protein requirements are higher in children than in adults because they have faster growth and development rates due to their increased cell turnover. Inadequacy of high-quality dietary proteins can cause stunted growth, poor body composition, and wasting. Calcium and vitamin D play an important role in physical development too. Calcium is the main component of the skeleton, while vitamin D ensures calcium reaches the growing bones.
Key nutrients for supporting immunity… A variety of vitamins and minerals that include micronutrients such as Vitamin A, B, C, D, E, Iron, Zinc, Magnesium, and Selenium, among others, have vital functions in the human body. Several studies have found that children provided with foods high in these essential micronutrients improve their immune system’s response rate and help them steer clear of various immune system diseases.
Childhood is the most significant period of growth and development, both physically and mentally. Setting the foundation with good nutrition during childhood has a profound impact, even during later life, and helps develop society and the world as a whole.
Multi-nutrient fortified Growing Up Milk such as Peak 456 formulated for children ages four to six is an excellent way to ensure optimal intake of several vitamins and minerals in a child’s daily diet.
On this World Health Day, let’s take a pledge to support WHO’s initiative of #OurPlanetOurHealth by focusing on good nutrition for our children’s health which can help them grow strong and smart.
The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria has maintained the benchmark interest rate at 27 per cent, extending its pause on monetary tightening.
The CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, announced the decision on Tuesday at the end of the committee’s 303rd meeting in Abuja.
Cardoso said, “The Committee decided by a majority vote to maintain the monetary policy stance,” indicating that members were not yet convinced that current economic conditions warranted another reduction.
The move follows the 50-basis-point cut implemented in September 2025, the only rate reduction since the tightening cycle began under the current CBN leadership.
It also marks the fourth consecutive hold this year.
The MPC had raised rates six times in 2024 amid surging inflation and currency pressures.
The Punch
Access Bank Plc, Nigeria’s largest retail bank, is set to unveil DettyFusion, an innovative all-in-one digital platform designed to help Nigerians at home and in the diaspora seamlessly discover, plan, and enjoy entertainment events during the upcoming Christmas and New Year festive season.
Billed as the first-of-its-kind entertainment aggregator in the country, DettyFusion will serve as a centralized hub where users can explore event calendars, purchase tickets, access exclusive discounts, participate in curated festive experiences, and make safe, seamless payments throughout the holiday period.
Speaking on the forthcoming launch, Access Bank’s Head of Mobility, Ishmael Nwokocha, said the platform was inspired by the bank’s commitment to enhancing customer experience during the highly anticipated Detty December season.
“Every December, Nigerians look forward to moments that bring joy, connection, and unforgettable experiences. The launch of DettyFusion will create a single gateway that makes it easier, safer, and more convenient for customers to enjoy the thrills of Detty December,” Nwokocha stated.
He added that the platform reflects Access Bank’s drive to deliver innovative lifestyle solutions that extend beyond traditional banking services. “DettyFusion brings together key features that meet the needs of today’s digitally active and experience-driven audience,” he said.
With this initiative, Access Bank continues to reinforce its position as a leading lifestyle enabler, supporting Nigeria’s creative sector while empowering customers to enjoy top-tier entertainment during the festive season.
With DettyFusion, Detty December just got smarter, more convenient, and even more rewarding.
Across Africa, women are fast becoming the heartbeat of economic transformation. From bustling open-air markets to high-tech boardrooms, women-led enterprises are redefining what is possible for the continent’s future.
Whether as market traders expanding their reach through digital platforms, tech founders scaling innovations across borders, or artisans turning local crafts into global brands, women’s contributions are now central to Africa’s economic resurgence.
Even as they break new ground, many still face formidable barriers. Access to finance, mentorship, business education, and supportive networks remains limited. Structural issues such as weak property rights, gender bias, and inadequate legal protections often hinder women from securing loans or expanding their businesses.
Consequently, many women-owned ventures remain small, informal, and vulnerable to economic shocks.
Recognising both the promise and the obstacles, Access Bank has positioned itself at the forefront of empowering women across the continent. Recently named Africa’s Best Financier for Female Entrepreneurs by the EMEA Finance Awards, the Bank has earned global recognition for its commitment to inclusion, innovation, and sustainable impact.
At the centre of this effort is the W Initiative, one of Africa’s most comprehensive women-focused banking programmes. Unlike conventional banking, it combines finance with mentorship, training, and community support, acknowledging that true empowerment requires more than access to capital. The initiative meets women wherever they are on their entrepreneurial journey, from start-ups to growing enterprises and corporate leadership.
The W Power Loan offers affordable credit with flexible terms, enabling women to invest in expansion, inventory, or technology. The W Academy provides leadership and business training on financial literacy, marketing, and regulatory compliance, while the W Community connects women to peers, mentors, and role models across industries.
Importantly, these offerings extend beyond urban centres. From microloans sustaining traders in rural markets to leadership programmes developing female executives in multinational firms, Access Bank’s approach is deliberately inclusive. By partnering NGOs, business associations, and government agencies, it reaches women in underserved communities, ensuring participation in Africa’s economic rise.
The results are evident. Thousands of women have accessed credit, training, and networks through the Bank’s initiatives, enabling them to launch and scale businesses, create jobs, and uplift their communities. The ripple effects are far-reaching: increased household income, improved family wellbeing, and greater economic resilience. Women who once faced daunting barriers now serve as role models and change-makers, inspiring others to follow their path.
Studies show that when women thrive, societies prosper. The World Bank and African Development Bank note that empowering women fuels GDP growth, improves health outcomes, and enhances social stability. By directly addressing structural gaps in access to finance and information, Access Bank helps to unlock this transformative potential.
Apart from supporting entrepreneurs, Access Bank promotes gender inclusion within its own organisation. Its leadership pipeline identifies and advances talented women, while mentorship and wellness programmes help female professionals thrive. The Bank also uses public platforms, from conferences to policy dialogues, to share success stories and advocate for gender diversity across sectors.
The EMEA Finance recognition thus goes beyond trophies and titles; it affirms that profitability and purpose can coexist. For Access Bank, supporting women’s advancement is smart economics. By embedding inclusion into its DNA, the Bank is shaping a financial ecosystem that views women as equal partners in progress.
Access Bank’s influence also extends into advocacy. Through forums, roundtables, and research collaborations, the Bank engages policymakers, civil society, and business leaders to identify and dismantle barriers facing women entrepreneurs. Its campaigns amplify women’s voices, spotlighting their achievements and driving conversations around inclusive growth.
