@axiaafrica Hello. I got a congratulatory email, and was asked to pay a one time #5000 administrative registration fee. Is this legit, or I should ignore the mail?
A woman in labour said I'm very wicked, today,because I was doing my job. Different people we meet everyday, but then, I love how their pains are soothed once their see their bundle of joy ๐ and you'll turn their best friend ๐งก
โNO BROMATE!โ
Have you ever stopped to wonder why those words are boldly written on most bread nylons in Nigeria?
Today, letโs talk about it.
Potassium bromate (KBrOโ) was once a common ingredient in bread-making. Bakers used it because it helped dough rise faster, made bread softer, and gave loaves that attractive, fluffy look.
But there was a serious problem, a dangerous one.
When bread isnโt baked at the right temperature or for long enough, bromate may not fully break down. That means traces of it remain in the bread we eat.
Over time, it can accumulate in the body. Scientific studies revealed that bromate is carcinogenic, it can cause cancer and also damage the kidneys.
For years, Nigerians unknowingly consumed bread containing this harmful substance. It was widespread because it was cheap and effective.
Then, everything changed. A woman decided it was time to put a stop to it.
Her name was Professor Dora Nkem Akunyili, who served as Director-General of NAFDAC from 2001 to 2008.
When she assumed office, Nigeriaโs food and drug system was in chaos โ fake products, unsafe additives, and weak regulation dominated the market. But Dora Akunyili was not one to ignore such dangers.
She launched investigations, sending officials to bakeries across the country to secretly collect bread samples. The findings were alarming.
A large portion of bread in circulation contained unsafe levels of bromate. That was all she needed to act.
In 2002, under her leadership, NAFDAC officially banned the use of potassium bromate in bread production across Nigeria.
But she didnโt stop at policy. She took the fight to the public โ speaking on air, addressing the press, and openly naming offenders. She warned Nigerians that the very bread many families relied on daily could be harming their health.
The resistance was fierce. Many bakers pushed back. But she stood her ground.
NAFDAC carried out raids, shut down non-compliant bakeries, and educated the public. Gradually, things began to change.
Bakers adopted safer alternatives like ascorbic acid (vitamin C), and the label โNO BROMATEโ became a symbol of safety and accountability. Today, many people donโt realize the impact of that decision.
Dora Akunyili was more than a regulator, she was a defender of public health. Her courage and integrity forced an entire industry to choose human life over profit.
So, the next time you pick up a loaf of bread and see โNO BROMATEโ on the nylon, take a moment to remember the woman behind it.
Her name is Dora Akunyili.
She didnโt just enforce a policy.
She saved a generation.