As momentum builds toward the 5th Annual WASPEN Clinical Nutrition Conference, the Chairman of the 2026 edition, Paul Osogbe Enebeli, has called for urgent national prioritisation of hospital nutrition care, describing it as a critical pillar for strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system and improving patient outcomes.
Speaking ahead of the highly anticipated conference scheduled to hold from June 22 to 25, 2026, at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, Delta State, Enebeli emphasized that sustainable clinical nutrition services must become an integral component of healthcare delivery across Nigeria and the West African region.
The conference, themed “Sustainable Clinical Nutrition Services: Ensuring Access, Safety, and Collaboration,” is expected to convene a powerful coalition of healthcare professionals, nutrition specialists, researchers, policymakers, and institutional leaders committed to transforming nutrition care through evidence-based practice and multidisciplinary collaboration.
In an exclusive interview with CEOAFRICA, the official media partner for the event, Enebeli disclosed that the conference was deliberately designed to shift conversations from persistent challenges to actionable solutions capable of repositioning nutrition as a central element of modern medicine.
According to him, nutritional support — including enteral and parenteral nutrition — must no longer be viewed as secondary care, but rather as an indispensable tool for patient recovery, disease prevention, and improved clinical outcomes.
“A lack of awareness and knowledge among healthcare professionals can sometimes hinder effective nutritional interventions,” Enebeli stated.
He further stressed that achieving excellence in healthcare is impossible without strengthening nutritional care systems.
“Effective, trustworthy clinical nutrition is thus an essential pillar of modern healthcare, preventing and treating disease through scientifically backed nutritional practices,” he added.
Enebeli’s vision aligns closely with that of the Founder and President of the West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN), Dr Teresa Isichei Pounds, who reiterated that access to proper nutrition care remains a fundamental human right.
Dr. Pounds called for stronger interdisciplinary partnerships among healthcare professionals, institutions, and regulatory bodies to dismantle professional silos and improve standards in nutrition education, training, and patient care.
“Strong partnerships are essential to raising standards in nutritional care, education and training,” she said.
She further reaffirmed WASPEN’s commitment to institutional collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem.
“By working closely with organizations and stakeholders, we can strengthen multidisciplinary collaboration to ensure that high-quality, safe, evidence-based nutritional support remains central to patient care in all settings.”
The conference is expected to attract top government officials and healthcare leaders from across Nigeria and beyond. The Executive Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori, is billed to attend as the Special Guest of Honour and officially declare the conference open.
Also expected is Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, whose participation underscores the Federal Government’s growing commitment to integrating nutrition into national healthcare policy and delivery systems.
Adding intellectual depth to the summit, Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi will deliver the keynote address titled “Building Sustainable Clinical Nutrition Services in Nigeria: Guidelines, Collaboration, and a Call to Action.”
The event will also feature a strategic joint presentation titled “Championing Hospital Nutrition Care: A Vision for Delta State and Nigeria,” to be delivered by Enebeli alongside Joseph Onojaeme.
Beyond Nigeria, the conference will host international experts including Zandraetta Tims-Cook and Mario Ferreyra, while distinguished legal scholar and traditional ruler Epiphany Azinge is also expected among other notable dignitaries.
Professional bodies expected at the conference include the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Nigerian Medical Association, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, and the Nutrition Society of Nigeria.
The four-day programme will commence with intensive pre-conference workshops focused on pediatric nutrition assessment and quality assurance protocols. These sessions are aimed at equipping practitioners with advanced technical competencies required to strengthen clinical nutrition standards across West Africa.
Enebeli stressed that tackling malnutrition demands a collective, system-wide response involving every category of healthcare personnel.
“Doctors, nurses, medical and nursing students, volunteers, and even catering staff all have an essential role to play. Therefore, I am calling on everyone to join this conference. Let us end malnutrition together,” he declared.
Describing the conference as the region’s foremost platform for advancing clinical nutrition practice, Dr. Pounds noted that the gathering is expected to significantly strengthen healthcare systems, improve patient outcomes, and deepen interprofessional collaboration across West Africa.
Registration fees have been fixed at ₦25,000 for the pre-conference workshop and ₦35,000 for the main conference, while students will enjoy a subsidized registration fee of ₦15,000.
Organised by the West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, the conference is widely regarded as a defining platform for mainstreaming clinical nutrition into healthcare delivery systems across Africa.
As the countdown to June 22 begins, stakeholders across the medical community are optimistic that the convergence of global expertise, policy direction, and institutional collaboration at WASPEN 2026 will set new benchmarks for nutrition care and healthcare excellence across the continent.
