The West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN) is set to host its 5th Annual Clinical Nutrition Conference, with a strong focus on advancing sustainable hospital nutrition services across Nigeria and the West African sub-region.

The conference, themed “Sustainable Clinical Nutrition Services: Ensuring Access, Safety, and Collaboration,” will hold from June 22 to 25, 2026, at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, Delta State, bringing together policymakers, healthcare leaders, nutrition experts, pharmacists, clinicians, academics, and development partners to address critical issues in clinical nutrition practice.

The high-level event is expected to convene stakeholders across the health sector to examine strategies for strengthening hospital-based nutrition services, improving patient outcomes, ensuring safety in nutrition support, and fostering interprofessional collaboration within healthcare systems.

Distinguished dignitaries scheduled to grace the conference include Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, Executive Governor of Delta State, and Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, CON, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, both serving as Special Guests of Honour. The Asagba of Asaba, Obi Professor Epiphany Azinge, SAN, will attend as Royal Father of the Day.

Other prominent figures expected at the conference are Pharm. (Chief) Paul Osogbe Enebeli, DSc (FPSN, FPCPharm, FNAPharm), Chairman of the conference; Mrs. Ladi-Bako Aiyegbusi, mni, former Director of Nutrition at the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, who will deliver the Keynote Address; Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, Commissioner for Health, Delta State, Guest Speaker; Dr. Omo Ekenaem, Acting Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer of FMC, Asaba, Chief Host; and Dr. Teresa Isichei Pounds, Founder and President of WASPEN, also serving as Chief Host.

The conference programme is structured to combine capacity building, community outreach, and scientific discourse. Activities will commence on Monday, June 22, 2026, with a pre-conference workshop featuring hands-on training sessions on enteral and parenteral nutrition support, designed to strengthen practical competencies among healthcare professionals.

This will be followed on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, by community-based nutrition screening and nutrition-related interventions across selected locations in Asaba, reinforcing WASPEN’s commitment to translating clinical knowledge into real-world impact.

The scientific conference sessions will take place on Wednesday, June 24, and Thursday, June 25, 2026, featuring plenary lectures, panel discussions, paper presentations, and expert exchanges on sustainable hospital nutrition, patient safety, multidisciplinary collaboration, and innovations in clinical nutrition care.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Dr. Teresa Pounds, Founder & President of WASPEN, described the 5th edition as a defining moment for clinical nutrition practice in the region.

“This conference is designed to strengthen hospital nutrition systems by ensuring that nutrition support is safe, accessible, and integrated into routine patient care,” she said. “Participants should expect practical knowledge, policy-relevant discussions, and collaborative strategies that will directly improve outcomes for patients in our hospitals.”

She encouraged early registration, noting that participation slots for the pre-conference training and scientific sessions are limited. “We urge professionals and institutions to register early to secure their places, especially for the hands-on workshops, as these sessions are highly practical and capacity-focused,” Dr. Pounds added.

Registration details have been announced as follows: ₦20,000 for early-bird pre-conference training and ₦25,000 for late registration; ₦30,000 early-bird and ₦35,000 late registration for the main conference; while the students’ conference fee is pegged at ₦15,000.

Early-bird registration runs from January 23 to May 2, 2026, while late registration opens from May 3 to June 14, 2026.

With its growing influence and multidisciplinary reach, the 5th Annual WASPEN Clinical Nutrition Conference is expected to further position clinical nutrition as a critical pillar of quality healthcare delivery, while strengthening collaboration among professionals committed to improving nutrition outcomes in hospital and community settings.