Delivering the keynote address, Professor Zubairu Ilyasu of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital disclosed that more than 11 million Nigerians are currently living with diabetes, with countless others likely undiagnosed. He stressed that poor lifestyle habits and limited awareness are major drivers of the crisis, calling for intensified public education and preventive strategies.
The event also featured insights from Emeritus Professor Musa Borodo, who voiced concerns about the rising cost of healthcare and its impact on disease management. He called for long-term, sustainable strategies to reduce the growing burden of NCDs in Nigeria.
ACEN President, Dr. Williams Balogun, emphasized the importance of prioritizing funding and innovative approaches to combat diabetes. He reaffirmed ACEN’s dedication to supporting research and developing targeted interventions that would have lasting public health impacts.
“This gathering is not only about discussion but action. We aim to develop effective strategies to curb the spread of diabetes and improve patient outcomes across Nigeria,” Dr. Balogun stated.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, represented by the state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, lauded the conference as timely and necessary. He reiterated the Kano State Government’s commitment to collaborating with healthcare professionals and institutions to tackle the diabetes epidemic.
As health experts from across the country convened to share research and chart a new path forward, the message from the conference was clear: Nigeria must act decisively to curb the growing tide of diabetes and other preventable health threats.