I would like to start by welcoming our visitors who have come all the way from Atlanta, Georgia, USA.  I understand you have visited Lagos, Kano and Kaduna states.

This is Ibadan, one of Nigeria’s ancient cities and capital of Oyo state – The Pace Setter.  Our city is very peaceful.  I therefore encourage you to find time to visit some interesting scenes before your departure.

I feel greatly honored to be in your midst on this historic event of the launching of EDC-2000 as the true replacement of Potassium Bromate in the process of bread making.  Two reasons for my delight in being here today are:

Firstly, as a mother, I am greatly concerned about the health of not just my children, and indeed my husband but of the entire people of this state.  Sincerely, you would agree with me that the motherly instinct in every female unconsciously compels us females to be very concerned about the well being of humanity in general.

Secondly, I am concerned about the huge losses being incurred by bakers who perhaps for reason of lack of a suitable alternative to Potassium Bromate continue to use the substance at great risk of loss arising from the intervention measures by NAFDAC.  I believe that these losses are avoidable.

I do believe that our gathering today will be for the total well being of the citizens as well as all the bakers in Oyo state.  It is proper at this juncture that I commend the efforts of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) led by its pace-setting Director General, Dr. (Mrs.) Dora Akunyili, CFR.  As the vanguard in the area of Public Health, NAFDAC has demonstrated a clear understanding of its assignment and a dogged pursuit of the vision of its founding fathers.  Despite the many constraining factors, the Agency has continued to remain focused.  This is as it should be, because health and in fact a healthy population is a prosperous nation.  I will continue to urge NAFDAC to remain resolute in their stand despite all odds.

The issue of the use of Potassium Bromate is without doubt one of the top most health issues in the nation today.  I understand that potassium Bromate has been proven to be a major cause of cancer and other avoidable diseases.  It remains a banned substance and NAFDAC has in the last on year or so been consistently enforcing the eradication of Potassium Bromate.  My heart bleeds each time I read in the papers about the number of bakeries that were shut down by NAFDAC in several states of Nigeria.  As a mother, I believe that the ban on the use of Potassium Bromate is more in the interest of the bakers because if they continue to bake bread with this banned substance they are also endangering their own immediate family members, because a women who cooks must taste the food and feed her family even before outsiders.  It is therefore clear that the greatest consumers of bread made with banned Potassium Bromate are the immediate family members of the baker himself.

Perhaps it is due to the lack of a performing substitute for Potassium Bromate that leads some bakers to continue to use banned substances.  This therefore makes our gathering today to launch Edc-2000, which has been certified by NAFDAC to be completely free of Potassium Bromate a remarkable occasion.  I understand too that this product, EDC-2000, has been tested by the National Executives of the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria (AMBCN).  Their verdict is that EDC-2000 performs exactly the role, which Potassium Bromate performed in the baking process.  With these credentials, I am therefore delighted to request all bakers and confectioners in Oyo State to immediately commence the use of EDC-2000.

I wish to commend Edlen International Incorporate and its affiliate company in Nigeria, Edlen International Nigeria Limited for their foresight and resourcefulness in developing EDC-2000.  I challenge them to ensure that the product reaches the baker when needed, where needed and at affordable price.  That way, your contribution towards the eradication of Potassium Bromate would have been significant.  I enjoin you to enter into discussions at the appropriate level with the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria (AMBCN) in order to ensure that EDC-2000 is available not only throughout Oyo State but all over the country.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I sincerely thank you for your time and as you return, may God Almighty lead you safely to your respective homes.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in advance.

Thank you and God Bless.