Nutrition
Stakeholders gather in Abuja to strengthen nutrition outcomes for healthy diets
***FG promises to restock food reserve system
Stakeholders have again expressed their commitment to putting in place a comprehensive approach to strengthening nutrition outcomes for sustainable healthy diets in Nigeria.
At the Launch of the 2024 Global Food Policy Report Jointly Organized by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the Globa Aliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) with the theme”improving food system for healthy diets and nutrition in Nigeria.
The Co- Convener and the Country Director of GAIN, Dr Michael Ojo said the conference was designed to advance nutrition outcomes in improving the consumption of safe food for every Nigerians.
Also, the Senior Director food and nutrition policy, International Food Policy Research Institute, IFPRI. Purnima Menon, noted that the poor status of protein consumption globally remained the leading cause of protein deficiency.
She promised the Institute support to the Nigerian government towards explores policy solutions to improve diet and nutrition in the country
While unavailing the policy report, the Minister of state for Agriculture and food security, Dr. Aliyu Abdullahi reaffirmed the renewed hope agenda of president Bola Tinubu commitments to addressing food security concerns in the country and driving down the cost of living for the citizens.
He announced the Federal Governments plans to restock the National Strategic Food Reserve System to address food insecurity and stabilise food prices in the country.
The United Nations predicted that 82 million Nigerians, about 64 per cent of the country’s population, may go hungry by 2030, as it called on the government to tackle climate change, pest infestations, and other threats to agricultural productivity.
It also noted that “in Nigeria, 37 per cent of children, or 6 million children, are stunted (chronically malnourished or low height for age), more than half of them severely. In addition, 18 per cent of children suffer from wasting (acutely malnourished or low weight for height).”
Abdullahi stated that the government is working hard to ramp up food production, particularly for major staples like rice, maize, and cassava, to calm down the current food situation.
He noted that the country’s production is not only for local consumption but also for the West African region.
“The idea of the National Strategic Food Reserve is for us to be able to keep stock so that when prices of food are getting high, we release from the stock so that we stabilise the price,” Abdullahi explained.
The minister acknowledged that the reserve system was affected by the floods in 2021, but the government is now working to restock it starting from this year’s harvest.
He also mentioned that the government is distributing fertiliser and agrocphemicals to farmers to boost production.
Abdullahi called on Nigerians to support the government’s efforts to address food insecurity and stabilize food prices.
“We are working very hard to make sure that when the time comes, we can get more food into our reserves because that will help us to stabilise the production,” he said.
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Abdullahi thanked the participants and called on Nigerians to work together to address the food insecurity challenge.
“We are aware that, honestly, what we produce in Nigeria, we are more or less producing for West Africa. People are aware of this. You go to the border markets, you see the kind of food that is leaving. So we are working very hard to make sure that when the time comes, we can get more food into our reserves because that will help us to stabilize the production”, he said.
Also speaking at the launch, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Production Services and Rural Development, Dr. Kingsley Uzoma indicated that the committee will support the initiatives aimed at addressing food insecurity and malnutrition in the country.
The chairman said, “Anything that has to do with food insecurity, food malnutrition, it is something that we must all contribute and put our hands on the deck.”
He emphasized the importance of ensuring that farmers enjoy the benefits of their harvest, saying, “After a harvest, you want to come back home to see that you get the benefits of whatever you live off of.”
The chairman also highlighted the need for quality harvests, stating, “We are now talking of the quality of the harvest. And that is the only thing that can give us a healthy nation.”
He commended the organizers of the event and expressed the committee’s willingness to collaborate with them, saying, “Whatever we can pick from here and collaborate with you, we will make sure we have our part.”
The chairman also emphasised the importance of partnership, saying, “We look forward to partnering with you in areas where we believe our legislative role will enhance your efficiency.”
In his closing remark, the Country Director, GAIN, Nigeria, Michael Ojo who had earlier made a presentation on the importance of data for evidence-based policymaking and targeted interventions to address malnutrition and promote healthy diets, noted that urgent efforts are needed to support governments and other stakeholders at all levels—from global to local—in leveraging the Nigeria Subnational Food Systems Dashboard and other data sources.
“This will guide national nutrition plans, identify effective entry points for improving diets, set realistic goals for transforming food systems, and navigate trade-offs to combat malnutrition and foster healthier diets,” he noted.
Nutrition
Farm Alert Launches Groundbreaking “Eggs of Hope” Initiative to Address Malnutrition in Northern Nigeria
Following the urgent need to combat malnutrition among children in Northern Nigeria, Farm Alert has unveiled its new initiative, “Eggs of Hope,” as part of its broader Project Sadakat program.
This innovative approach harnesses the power of crowdfunding to distribute eggs—an excellent source of vital nutrients—to children in underserved communities.
The launch event was held at Farm Alert’s office in Abuja and featured keynotes from influential figures, including the Technical Adviser to the Vice President of Nigeria on Women, Youth Engagement, and Impact, Hauwa Liman.
Liman in her address underscored the critical role that initiatives like “Eggs of Hope” play in combatting malnutrition, asserting the need for collective action to support vulnerable populations.
Esteemed guests, such as Dr. Oladotun Fadipe, Registrar of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, and Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Chinna, also attended the launch, showcasing a unified commitment to addressing this pressing health issue.
“Eggs of Hope” is an initiative that utilizes a unique crowdfunding model, allowing donors to contribute just 200 naira—the cost of a single egg. This funding will be directed towards purchasing eggs from local farmers, ensuring that aid not only addresses malnutrition but also supports the regional economy.
Once collected, the eggs will be distributed to schools and communities in Northern Nigeria, where malnutrition significantly hampers children’s growth and development. This direct-to-need approach ensures that donations effectively reach those who require assistance the most.
Farm Alert has also extended an invitation to individuals and organizations to participate in the “Eggs of Hope” initiative. “Every small contribution can collectively make a substantial impact in the fight against child malnutrition,” a Farm Alert representative stated.
To contribute or find out more about Project Sadakat, visit the Farm Alert website at [farmalert.com.ng/donate](http://farmalert.com.ng/donate).
Through collaborative efforts, Farm Alert believes that we can not only provide nourishment but also instill hope and pave the way for a brighter future for the children of Northern Nigeria.
By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The Nutrition Commodities and Logistics Management System desk officer in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mr. Samari Godwin Bawa has reported that Nigeria records no fewer than 2.5 million cases of severe malnutrition among children annually.
He made the disclosure while addressing questions during a two-day training for Nutrition Programme Officers on logistics for nutrition commodities, held at the Tahir Guest Palace in Dutse, Jigawa State.
Bawa explained that the federal government is concerned about the high number of severely malnourished children and is implementing programs to integrate nutrition initiatives into the Nigerian Health Logistics Management Information System (NHLMIS).
“Nigeria has the second highest rate of severe malnutrition in the world, following India, and the situation is worsening despite the efforts of the Nigerian government, partners, and donor agencies,” he stated.
He added that the nutrition program would be included in the NHLMIS alongside other health initiatives like malaria, HIV, TB, and maternal and child health.
The Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Jigawa State government and supported by Nutrition International, is working to address challenges related to stockouts of nutrition commodities in health facilities across the state.
“We are onboarding nutrition into the system to ensure visibility of commodities for federal, state, and local governments, similar to other public health programs,” Bawa noted.
The training aims to enhance the capacity of logistics managers handling nutrition commodities, helping them effectively use the NHLMIS platform for accountability.
Mrs. Ayodele Gbemileke, a senior program officer at Nutrition International, commended the efforts of the federal and state governments. She emphasized that this initiative will improve accountability and reduce stockouts of nutrition commodities.
Nutrition International has supported the training of about 40 nutrition logistics managers from Jigawa State on the NHLMIS platform. Gbemileke urged participants to apply their newly acquired skills and train other nutrition officers to help save millions of children from the risk of stunting.
Additionally,, a Jigawa State nutrition officer, Malam Muhammad Abdullahi stated that the state government, in partnership with UNICEF, has procured N500 million worth of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) for distribution to all malnutrition treatment centers across the state.
By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in partnership with Nutrition International, has successfully trained over 40 Nutrition Programme Officers in Jigawa State.
The capacity building which is on the logistics of nutrition commodities and their integration into the Nigerian Health Logistics Management Information System (NHMIS).
Held at Tashir Gust Palace in Dutse, the two-day training aimed to address the pressing issue of malnutrition in Nigeria, where approximately 2.5 million children are reported to suffer from severe malnutrition annually.
The desk officer for Nutrition Commodities and Logistics Management, Mr. Samari Godwin Bawa, emphasized the need for effective data management to guide interventions at all levels of government.
Bawa highlighted that Nigeria has one of the highest rates of malnutrition globally, second only to India.
He underscored the importance of onboarding nutrition programs into the NHMIS to enhance visibility and accountability in managing nutrition commodities alongside other public health programs.
A senior programme officer at Nutrition International, Mrs. Ayodele Gbemileke, praised the collaboration between federal and state governments, asserting that it would help reduce stockouts of nutrition supplies.
She urged participants to apply their training and share their knowledge with colleagues to better combat child malnutrition.
Additionally, Malam Muhammad Abdullahi, a Jigawa state nutrition officer, announced that the state government, in collaboration with UNICEF, has invested N500 million in Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to support treatment centers across the state.
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