Katamaran Deck (Ijebu-Ode/Remo chapter) of the National Association of Seadogs, popularly known as Pyrates Confraternity, has held its annual Feast of Barracuda, enlightening Nigerians on the importance of nutrition and nutrients to their body systems and general well-being.
The well-attended event, which held last Saturday in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, provided an opportunity for all-round fun as family members and friends of Seadogs gathered together to once again make merry in commemoration of the yearly event.
The Guest Speaker, who is also the Acting Head of Department of Food Technology, Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Sapade, Ogun State, Mr Dotun Opaleye, spoke on the topic, “Micronutrients – Unfolding the Secret to Better Health.”
Opaleye, in opening his speech on the occasion, delved into what micronutrients are, and quoting the World Health Organisation (WHO), he defined them as vitamins and minerals required by the body in little quantities.
He listed essential micronutrients to include: Iodine, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Zinc, Folate, Iron, Magnesium and their sources as well as treatments for their deficiencies.
Opaleye noted that the impact of micro-nutrients on human health is crucial, adding that deficiency in any of them can cause severe life-threatening conditions.
The varsity don added that micronutrients provide a wide range of functions, including enabling the body to produce hormones, enzymes and other substances needed for normal growth and development.
He, however, further noted that with the exception of Vitamin D, micronutrients are not synthesised in the body and must be supplied from diet or drugs
The varsity don, however, stated that not all medical conditions require the use of drugs, noting that many of such conditions can be prevented and treated if one consumes the required amount of micronutrients.
He, therefore, recommended that fruits and vegetables should be consumed daily and dietary supplements also taken everyday for anyone to attain optimal health.
A member of the Katamaran Deck of NAS, Dr Ayodeji Aina, corroborated the guest speaker, sharing additional information on the theme based on his experience as a medical personnel.
Earlier, the Katamaran Deck Vice President 2 and Project Coordinator for the Ijebu-Ode/Remo chapter, Jamal Caleb Apena, gave a brief history of NAS and the rationale behind celebrating the Feast of Barracuda annually.
Apena stressed that Barracuda as a fish constitutes a threat to other fishes, as it preys on them.
He added that but once other fishes have access to a dead barracuda, they’ll feast on it and celebrate the exit of an enemy.
Apena likened this to the ills militating against a just society, stressing that as part of NAS’ efforts to combat those ills, it’s imperative to feast on the Barracuda as a symbol of defeating those ills militating against the society.
The President of the Katamaran Deck, Olumide Fagbohunka, unveiled the Barracuda fish to signal the commencement of the feast.
Some of the guests at the feast commended the Katamaran Deck of NAS for organising such an educative and enlightening event.
Mr Olukoya Ibitoye, a post-graduate student of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Ibadan, who graced the occasion from Epe, Lagos State, observed that the FOB was his first experience with the association.
He noted the fact that there had been so many misconceptions about what NAS stands for.
But he stressed that the scale fell from his eyes with his experience of the “Barracuda feasting,” which he said was a clear and true picture of what NAS stands for.
He went further to applaud the epoch-making event, which he said, alongside the impact of the lecture on our health, where light was shed on the importance of micronutrients in our body and life generally.
He said the event also afforded him the opportunity to meet with different calibre of people doing well in their respective professions (Law, Medicine, Academia, among others).
He noted with delight that NAS is an association that can be identified with based on the core value they represent in the society.
Mr. Hafiz Bello, who graced the event from Abeokuta, Ogun State, observed in his own words that the lecture was a right one needed as at this time that the country is experiencing serious cases of malnutrition and ranked one of the countries with more malnourished people.
He went further to advise that it is important that the deck should, through this lecture, come up with a policy paper on nutrition that should be presented to the Ministry of Health and the Primary health care board of the state.
He added that the policy paper should include how to explore micronutrients to improve general well-being in the country.
Another guest, Mrs Motunrayo Obisanya, commended the objectives and motives behind the event.
She expressed delight at the wonderful experience she had in addition to the enlightenment on how to improve on nutritional health.
The children who accompanied their parents to the event also had a great fun.
