1. Jike-Wai O, Emodi I.A, and Opurum L.C

2. INTODUCTION The study was carried out in University of Port Harcourt (UPH) and Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST).  Nutrition is of utmost relevance in the enhancement, sustenance, and predicting of human health.  Proper and adequate nutrition as well as fruit consumption pattern has great influence on the growth and development of an individual.

3. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The study;  assessed the fruit consumption pattern of RSUST and UPH students.  ascertained the level of nutrition knowledge of student of both schools.  assessed the nutritional status of the students

4. METHODOLOGY  Area of Study:- Port Harcourt, Rivers State  Sampling:- Simple Random sampling Technique  Sample Size :- 200 (100 for UPH and RSUST respectively)  Instrument for Data Collection:- (1)Questionnaire (2) Flat Bottom Scale (3) Wooden Measuring Tape

5. RESULTS PRESENTATION Table 1: Sex and Age distribution of Respondents (%) VariableRSUSTUPH Sex Male7359 Female2741 Total100100 Age 20-257370 26-302425 31-3524 36 and above11 Total100100

6. Table 2: Frequency of Fruit Consumption by Respondents (%) FrequencyRSUSTUPH Daily2426 Once a week3029 2-3 times a week2927 Occasionally1718 Never--

7. Table 3: Frequency of Meal Consumption by Respondents (%) Frequency (per day)RSUST UPH Once22 Twice3334 3 times6460 Go without meals some days11 Total100100

8. Table 4: Respondents Attitude to Consuming Fruits with each meal (%) Do you eat fruits with each meal consumedRSUST UPH Yes79 Not regularly 5251 No4140

9. Table 5: Type of Snack Consumed by Respondents (%) SnacksRSUSTUPH Fruits1717 Pastry foods6064 Rice meals96 Other meals1413

10. Table 6: Respondents Monthly upkeep Allowance (Naira) Amount N RSUST UPH Less than N5000 6158 N6000 – N10,0002222 N11,000-N15,000912 More than N15,00088

11. Table 7: Reason for Eating Fruits (%) ReasonsRSUSTUPH Source of vitamin and mineral6365 Body building1814 Like eating fruits79 Prevent diseases99 Provides energy33

12. Table 8: Students Response on items of Nutritional Knowledge(%) Levels of knowledgeRSUSTUPH Excellent (70-100%)5146 Good (50-69)1921 Fair (40-49)511 Poor (0-39%)2522

13. Table 9: Respondents Frequency of Physical Exercise (%) Frequency of exerciseRSUSTUPH Once a week71 Once a month513 Occasionally2511 Never6375

14. Table 10: Body Mass Index Range & Scores BMI rangeRSUSTUPH Less than 18.5 (underweight)1012 18.5-24.9 (Normal)6968 25.0-29.9 (overweight)1616 30.0 – 34.9 (obese I)43 35.0-39.9 (obese II)11

15. CONCLUSION The study revealed that although 100% of the respondents from both institutions claimed to consume fruits at some point in the week, various forms of malnutrition exist among them as shown by the lower and higher BMI’s, despite their adequate level of nutrition knowledge. This therefore reveals the need for nutrition intervention and education program in the universities.

16. THANK YOU FOUR YOUR MERITORIOUS ATTENTION