UI researchers develop infant formula with locally sourced materials

Researchers in the department of agricultural extension and rural development at the University of Ibadan (UI) have produced an infant formula using locally sourced materials.

The infant food, ‘Nutri-Active’, was produced through the support of a Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) grant.

The formula was developed by Yahaya Kuta, a professor in the department of agricultural extension and rural development, and Mojisola Oyewole, one of the researchers at the university.

The project was supported by researchers in various universities in the north-central, south-south, south-west, south-east and north-east.

In an interview with TheCable on Tuesday, Kuta said the Nutri-Active baby food was produced in different flavours, adding that it has been tested in different healthcare facilities in the country.

“The University of Ibadan where I come from is more or less a research-based university that focuses on problem solving. So we identify problems and solve them. We had an opportunity to conduct multidisciplinary research involving people from various research endeavours,” Kuta said.

“We thought about what we can do about the ever-increasing cost of food supplements or weaning formula for children.”

Kuta, who is the principal researcher, said the Nutri-Active formula was sweetened with dates, which he said contains soluble sugar.

“So this was a source of sweetener for the children, and because the formula was in different flavours, the children liked it,” he said.

“We visited about three healthcare centres in days when mothers were having immunisations so we used the opportunity to test it and know the flavours the children were more inclined with.”

‘NUTRI-ACTIVE WILL SOLVE PROBLEMS OF IMPORTING BABY FOOD’

The professor said the researchers are willing to commence mass production of the infant formula if there are food companies ready to collaborate.

“We are very happy to report it to the world. We developed it through a TETFund grant that is available to academics on a competitive basis,” he said.

“We are privileged to be the team that succeeded in this endeavour. We have a window of opportunity to review the cost of food supplements for children, popularly referred to as weaning formula.

“If we are going to patent it, if we get food companies that will want to multiply it, we should be able to work with them so they can mass produce for the country.”

Commenting on the affordability of the product, he said for now it’s not about cost, but palatability and acceptance.