The Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), in collaboration with Foodjustice, on Thursday trained Nigerian journalists in Lagos on effective reporting of the Planetary Health Diet to drive policy action.
Speaking at the training, the Executive Director of RDI, Mr Philip Jakpor, said the media plays a strategic role in shaping public understanding and influencing policymakers on health, food systems and environmental sustainability.
Jakpor described the Planetary Health Diet as a science-backed dietary pattern that promotes human health while protecting the environment, with an emphasis on plant-based foods and reduced consumption of red meat and processed foods.
He noted that despite its vast arable land, Africa remains marginal in the global adoption of the dietary model, even as the continent grapples with malnutrition and a rising burden of non-communicable diseases.
According to him, non-communicable diseases account for about 30 per cent of annual deaths in Nigeria, with over 617,000 deaths recorded in 2020, many of which were premature.
He said lifestyle changes, urbanization and poor diets have driven the rise of illnesses previously uncommon in Africa, stressing the need for science-based solutions.
Jakpor said the training featured experts from Nigeria, Ghana, Mexico and Italy, who shared experiences on integrating Planetary Health Diet principles into agriculture, education and school feeding systems.
Speaking on reporting considerations, Mr Tope Oluwaleye, a veteran journalist, urged reporters to present the diet as flexible and adaptable to local cultures rather than as a strict exclusion of animal products.
He said reports should highlight both health benefits, including reduced risk of diabetes, and environmental gains such as lower greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity protection.
Oluwaleye also urged journalists to address criticisms transparently, including possible nutritional gaps, while promoting balanced and high-quality diets.
In a session on policy integration, another resource person, Dr Chioma Okonkwo, said the diet could be mainstreamed into existing Lagos State public health and nutrition frameworks without creating new policies.
She identified public food procurement and primary healthcare services as practical entry points for integrating healthier and more sustainable dietary guidance.
Okonkwo advised journalists to track policy signals such as budget allocations, institutional responsibilities and monitoring indicators to distinguish intent from implementation.
It was reported that the training aimed to equip journalists with skills to produce in-depth reports capable of driving accountability and accelerating the adoption of healthier, sustainable diets.
