Amid rising concerns over child malnutrition and food insecurity in Nigeria, stakeholders at the Scaling-Up Nutrition Civil Society Alliances Regional Workshop for West and Central Africa, held in Lagos, have called on African nations to prioritize nutrient-dense foods, especially for children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers.
Delivering a passionate address, Mrs. Uju Rochas-Anwukah, Special Assistant to the President on Public Health and Focal Person for Nutrition in the Office of the Vice President, urged African leaders to stop managing malnutrition and confront it head-on.
“Our children are not a burden; they are our builders. But they cannot build if their bodies are starved and their brains malnourished,” she said.
Highlighting Nigeria’s efforts, she noted the Nutrition 774 Initiative, launched in February 2024, as a game-changing, community-led program spanning all 774 LGAs.
The initiative adopts a multi-sectoral, budget-tagged framework that includes health, agriculture, education, WASH, and social protection, all aligned under one plan, report, and framework.She stressed the need for political will, sustainable financing, and accountability, asserting that Nigeria is not just calling for change but backing it with results-driven investments.
Senator Chike Okafor, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, also emphasized the twin crisis of malnutrition and food insecurity, citing the latest Nigeria Demographic Health Survey (2023/2024) which shows that 26.5 million Nigerians face food insecurity.
He pointed to stagnation or worsening indicators in maternal anaemia, antenatal attendance, and child nutrition, worsened by COVID-19, climate change, and post-harvest losses.He disclosed that the 10th National Assembly is taking proactive steps to change the narrative.
Alexandra Newlands, Head of the Scaling Up Nutrition Civil Society Network (SUN CSN), praised Nigeria for its hospitality and leadership in nutrition advocacy.
Mrs. Judith Kabore, Country Action Specialist at the SUN Movement Secretariat/Dakar Hub, stated that 16.7 million children across West and Central Africa suffer from acute malnutrition, with 1.4 million severely affected in six Sahelian countries.
Chairman of CS-SUNN, Mr. Sodangi Chindo, hailed the workshop as proof of civil society’s commitment to ending malnutrition.
He highlighted the network’s collaboration with key donors including UNICEF, BMGF, and GAIN, which has resulted in adoption of major national policies and increased budgetary allocation for nutrition at national and state levels.
In a goodwill message, Dr. Oluwatoni Adeyemi, representing the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, reaffirmed Lagos State’s dedication to nutrition-sensitive policies.
The event ended with a renewed call for strategic partnerships, grassroots action, and sustained policy implementation to address Nigeria and Africa’s lingering nutrition challenges.