Nutrition

By Uzair Adam

Poor nutrition remains a major obstacle to national development as it weakens cognitive ability, undermines educational attainment, reduces productivity and compromises the quality of human capital, Professor Hassana Sani Darma has said.

Professor Darma stated this on Thursday, July 9, 2026, while delivering the 61st Professorial Inaugural Lecture of Bayero University, Kano, at the CBN Centre of Excellence.

Delivering a lecture titled, “Rejigging Cognitive, Behavioural and Coordination Functions: Nutrients Supplementation for Neurodivergent Disorders,” the renowned scholar described nutrition as more than a matter of physical wellbeing, stressing that it forms the foundation for brain development, learning, behaviour and human performance.

The former Vice Chancellor of Khadija University, Majia, Jigawa State, explained that nutrition is fundamental to neurodevelopment because it influences brain structure, neurological functions and overall human capacity from infancy to adulthood.

According to her, neurodivergent conditions are influenced by biological factors, with nutrition playing significant roles in their development and management.

Professor Darma expressed concern over the prevalence of poor nutrition in Nigeria, noting that many of its consequences continue to receive inadequate attention from families, schools and policymakers.

She observed that developmental disorders, learning difficulties and behavioural challenges are often blamed on poor parenting or ineffective schooling without adequate consideration of the biological and nutritional factors that may contribute to such conditions.

“Behaviour issues and learning struggles might actually come from biochemical imbalances caused by missing key nutrients,” she said.

The professor maintained that providing children with balanced and nutritious diets could significantly reduce several health challenges while improving classroom performance and learning outcomes.

She stressed the close relationship between nutrition and human functioning, warning that inadequate nutrition during the early stages of life could significantly limit children’s intellectual potential.

According to her, children deprived of adequate nutrition during critical periods of growth may develop weaker thinking skills, poor memory, reduced concentration and diminished learning capacity.

She added that rather than overcoming these disadvantages before beginning formal education, many affected children continue to fall behind throughout their academic journey, limiting their future opportunities and productivity.

Professor Darma cited scientific evidence indicating that poor nutrition does not merely accompany learning difficulties but could actively contribute to poor cognitive development, behavioural disorders and impaired intellectual performance over time.

The inaugural lecturer further explained that human functioning results from the coordinated interaction of the central nervous system, peripheral nerves and musculoskeletal system.

She said the biological systems operate as an integrated network responsible for thinking, behaviour, movement, coordination and adaptation to environmental demands.

“The efficiency of these interconnected systems is significantly influenced by nutritional status, particularly during periods of rapid growth and development,” she explained.

Professor Darma also drew attention to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), saying the condition is often misunderstood and wrongly attributed solely to poor parenting or ineffective schooling.

While hereditary factors could contribute to ADHD, she identified other possible influences as maternal smoking, alcohol or drug use during pregnancy, oxygen deprivation during childbirth, prenatal trauma, environmental pollution, allergies and inadequate nutrition.

She disclosed that many children diagnosed with ADHD have one or more nutritional deficiencies which, when properly identified and addressed, could lead to improvements in attention span, concentration, self-control and overall behaviour.

The professor also highlighted the importance of blood glucose regulation in cognitive performance, explaining that fluctuations in glucose levels could directly affect attention, memory and the speed at which the brain processes information.

According to her, low glucose levels may reduce concentration and slow cognitive processing, while excessive consumption of processed carbohydrates, highly processed foods and sugar-sweetened carbonated drinks could result in metabolic disturbances and brain inflammation capable of impairing cognitive functions.

Professor Darma expressed concern over the growing preference for processed foods, packaged snacks and soft drinks, which she said are often viewed as symbols of affluence, convenience or modern living.

She cautioned that such products are typically high in refined sugars, unhealthy fats and artificial additives while lacking essential nutrients required for healthy brain development, learning and behaviour.

“Replacing wholesome foods with processed meals and sugary beverages may gradually weaken cognitive performance, reduce attention span and impair memory,” she warned.

She added that the trend could also increase the risk of nutritional deficiencies, particularly among children and adolescents.

Professor Darma therefore advocated healthy and balanced diets rich in essential nutrients as indispensable tools for improving educational achievement, mental health and human productivity.

She argued that educational reforms would achieve limited success if nutrition is neglected, urging governments and educational institutions to integrate nutritional support into learning programmes.

According to her, nutrition should be recognised as a strategic investment in human capital development, as healthier children are more likely to become productive adults capable of contributing meaningfully to national growth.

She also called on policymakers, healthcare professionals, educators and development partners to place nutrition at the centre of educational planning, clinical practice and public health interventions.

Professor Darma maintained that sustainable national development depends on raising a generation of physically healthy, mentally alert and intellectually productive citizens, stressing that improved nutrition is critical to achieving the goal.

Representing the Vice Chancellor, Professor Haruna Musa, fsi, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research and Development, Professor Amina Mustapha, said Bayero University places a high premium on research, innovation and academic scholarship.

She noted that professorial inaugural lectures remain an important academic tradition of the University through which scholars share research findings capable of addressing contemporary societal challenges.

Professor Mustapha commended Professor Darma for delivering a lecture that highlighted the vital relationship between nutrition, education, health and national development.

She said the lecture demonstrated that improving nutrition is not merely a health intervention but a national development strategy capable of strengthening educational outcomes, enhancing workforce productivity and improving citizens’ quality of life.

Professor Mustapha expressed optimism that the recommendations from the lecture would stimulate further research, influence public policy and encourage governments, educational institutions and development partners to invest more deliberately in nutrition as a foundation for sustainable national development.

The lecture attracted principal officers of the University, members of the academic community, health professionals, researchers, students and other distinguished guests, who described the presentation as timely, enlightening and relevant to Nigeria’s quest for sustainable human capital development.