ASABA/Nigeria: Chairman of the 2026 West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN) Clinical Nutrition Conference, Mr. Paul Osogbe Enebeli, has called for urgent national prioritisation of hospital nutrition care, describing it as a critical component for strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system and improving patient outcomes.
Enebeli made the call ahead of the 5th Annual WASPEN Clinical Nutrition Conference scheduled to hold from June 22 to 25, 2026, at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, Delta State. In an exclusive interview with CEOAFRICA, the official media partner for the conference, he stressed the need for sustainable clinical nutrition services to become an integral part of healthcare delivery across Nigeria and the West African sub-region.
The conference, themed “Sustainable Clinical Nutrition Services: Ensuring Access, Safety, and Collaboration,” is expected to bring together healthcare professionals, nutrition experts, researchers, policymakers, and institutional leaders committed to advancing evidence-based nutrition care and multidisciplinary collaboration.
According to Enebeli, the conference was deliberately designed to move discussions beyond challenges toward practical and actionable solutions capable of repositioning nutrition as a central element of modern medical practice.
He explained that nutritional support, including enteral and parenteral nutrition, should no longer be treated 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, while emphasizing that excellence in healthcare delivery cannot be achieved 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 position aligns with that of the Founder and President of WASPEN, Dr. Teresa Isichei Pounds, who reaffirmed that access to proper nutrition care remains a fundamental human right.
Dr. Pounds called for stronger interdisciplinary partnerships among healthcare professionals, institutions, and regulatory agencies 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 stated, while reaffirming 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,” Dr. Pounds added.
The conference is expected to attract top government officials and healthcare leaders from within and outside Nigeria. Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori, is expected to attend as Special Guest of Honour and formally declare the conference open.
Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, is also expected at the summit, a development observers say underscores the Federal Government’s growing commitment to integrating nutrition into national healthcare policy and delivery systems.
The conference will feature a keynote address by Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi titled, “Building Sustainable Clinical Nutrition Services in Nigeria: Guidelines, Collaboration, and a Call to Action.”
Also expected at the summit is a strategic joint presentation titled, “Championing Hospital Nutrition Care: A Vision for Delta State and Nigeria,” to be delivered by Paul 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 focusing on pediatric nutrition assessment and quality assurance protocols aimed at equipping healthcare practitioners with advanced competencies required to strengthen clinical nutrition standards across West Africa.
Enebeli stressed that tackling malnutrition requires a collective and system-wide response involving all categories 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 expressed optimism that the gathering would significantly strengthen healthcare systems, improve patient outcomes, and deepen interprofessional collaboration across West Africa.
Registration fees for the event have been fixed at ₦25,000 for the pre-conference workshop and ₦35,000 for the main conference, while students are expected to 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. 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 on the continent.
