Cancer Expert Warns Against Random Eating, Drinking

A food scientist in Akwa Ibom State, Mrs. Idara Emmanuel Okon, has cautioned Nigerians against consuming random and unregulated food and drinks, warning that unhealthy eating habits may increase the risk of cancer and other diseases.

She gave the warning at the 2026 graduation ceremony of Batch ‘A’ students of IDYJAY Kitchen Culinary School in Uyo over the weekend.

According to her, many cancer-related illnesses reported in Nigeria are linked to the consumption of unhealthy food and drinks.

“I am urging Nigerians and indeed the general public to try as much as possible not to eat food randomly, even water, because what you take in will either make or destroy you,” she said.

Okon added that rising cases of cancers such as those affecting the head, lungs, and eyes are partly influenced by poor dietary choices.

She warned that consuming unhealthy food or drinks could worsen health conditions and expose individuals to serious illnesses.

“If you eat unhealthy foods or drink unhealthy drinks, you will end up fast-forwarding your death by having a whole lot of health issues as a result of destroying your system,” she said.

The food scientist also stressed that maintaining a healthy diet is more cost-effective than treating illnesses in hospitals.

“It is not actually costly to eat healthy food or drink healthy drinks, but it is even more costly to be in the hospital treating one ailment or another,” she added.

Mrs. Okon, who is also the Managing Director of IDYJAY Kitchen Culinary School, said the institution was established not only to train entrepreneurs but also to promote food safety and healthy consumption practices.

She noted that students are trained in food safety, food hazards, food presentation, and quality standards to ensure they can produce safe and nutritious meals.

“In this field, certificates do not really count; it is what you can do practically when you graduate that matters,” she said.