The wife of the governor of Anambra State, Mrs. Nonye Soludo, is addressing drug abuse, cultism, and poor nutrition in society with a project she is running in schools.
She told select journalists on Tuesday that her Healthy Living Club, domesticated at the various schools in the state, will provide a strategic approach to addressing negative living that is driving vices and sicknesses in Anambra State.
Mrs. Soludo had the interactive session with the journalists at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, as part of efforts to bring the initiative to public awareness.
The Anambra State first lady is also seeking the buy-in of stakeholders, especially mothers, youths, and children, to give the initiative the right footing.
She said the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo initiative has been operational for more than 10 years and that she is only bringing it home now to engender a change in the citizens’ attitude toward their health and overall well-being.
“Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo is a comprehensive wellness package that cuts across six thematic areas: nutrition, fitness, basic skills, environmental and personal cleanliness, mental health, and sound morality,” She said.
“In fact, my business, Healthy Living Products, where I have over 100 products in the market started from this initiative.
“So, it didn’t start now that I became the first lady in Anambra. No. I am only bringing it home now to the schools and adults so that we can begin to change the way we do things.
“Our mission is actually to mobilize all the critical segments of the society to make healthy living a culture and a lifestyle,” She added.
Mrs. Soludo said as a major thematic area, nutrition is everything and regretted that people do not take care of what they put into their systems.
This she noted, has resulted in a lot of sicknesses that are killing many.
She, however, noted that it was high time people began to question products that are packaged and sold to them to eat.
“You get a simple product and see 35 ingredients and 90 percent of it, you don’t know what they are. And you see people eating those things. I always advise that you do not consume such things.
“Until we make a conscious effort to clean up our system and start eating well, we may continue to experience all these sicknesses we encounter today.
“Over the years, I have learned that our food is so powerful. Just give the body the nutrients it requires and it will serve you well and it is not too expensive to do. Cut down on the consumption of processed foods because that’s why the body's organs are suffering.
“Our people go about checking calories when they are considering food products but what we want them to begin to look at, are the chemicals used to preserve these foods,” she said.
She emphasized the relevance of exercise and fitness in healthy living and urged people to dedicate a little time in their day to do exercises that will help remove toxins from their bodies.
“I encourage our people to dedicate two percent of their day to exercise and you will be able to remove so many toxins from your body.
“The feel-good factor you experience after a morning exercise is a win-win for you. You will be more happy and more productive and when you do it over a long time, it becomes an addiction.
“The physical fitness aspect of the Healthy Living With Nonye Soludo initiative is a practical process and the people who follow me have eloquent testimonies of how the process has benefitted them immensely.”
Mrs. Soludo also spoke on the environmental aspect of the initiative, as she tried to get Anambrarians to take care of the environment, especially as the state is prone to erosion.
She advised against building on waterways, improper termination of water from homesteads, illicit dumping of refuse especially in drainages, and incessant felling of trees without planting new ones.
She said these practices pose dire environmental consequences for the state.
The initiative is also focusing on empowering children with sound values and morals to say no to cultism, prostitution, drug abuse, unwholesome companionship, and other negative acts, as well as exposing them to sex education.
“Mothers are so busy running around for business and neglecting the main job God has given us which is taking care of these children,” she said.
“There is no time to discuss with them and find out their problems. These children will end up talking to friends who are in no position to advise them favorably.
“So, we call, on parents to endeavor to make out quality time to care for our children. When our children are not friendly with us, we cannot get any secrets out of them.
“I want to use this August meeting to talk to women on the need to care for their children and this club we are establishing in our schools will go further to keep these children continually conscious of these things.
“And we want to make the clubs very interactive so that the message can sink deeper,” Mrs Soludo said.
The governor's wife emphasized plans to get the initiative firmly rooted in schools and ensure its continuity, long after the Soludos are out of government in Anambra State.
The initiative is being funded by passionate people and businesses that believe in its ethos, including those based outside Anambra State.
