*** *Seeks support from development partners for the 774 Nutrition Initiative to combat malnutrition*
Vice President Kashim Shettima has unveiled the framework of the federal government’s comprehensive vision for a nationwide nutrition program to address malnutrition and food insecurity in Nigeria.
The proposed programme, “774 Nutrition Initiative”, aims to improve nutritional outcomes across all 774 local government areas (LGAs) in the country.
Speaking on Tuesday during a roundtable with development partners at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Vice President Shettima said the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader focus on food security and availability across Nigeria.
“The priority with which His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sought the availability of food has gone hand in hand with our commitment to eradicate malnutrition.
“Our aspiration as a nation goes beyond the mere abundance of food in our granaries and warehouses. “We cannot claim victory unless there is certainty that every household in Nigeria has access to the preferred and prescribed diets essential for healthy living,” the Vice President said.
It should be recalled that in September the 144th meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) approved the Nutrition 774 program as the main platform to combat malnutrition in Nigerian communities.
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The council encouraged development partners to provide financial and technical assistance to support this initiative.
Speaking at the roundtable with development partners on Tuesday, the vice president urged development partners to support the proposed initiative, recognizing the crucial role of collaboration in addressing the nation's nutritional challenges.
“This initiative must be owned by our development partners as much as the government as each of us is a stakeholder in the emergence of a healthy and stable Nigeria,” he said.
Vice President Shettima explained that the proposed 774 Nutrition Initiative takes a grassroots-driven approach, empowering local actors to take charge of nutritional improvements in their communities, as well as investing in local capacity through worker training. health and community leaders.
“The 774 Nutrition Initiative is a guarantee for all Nigerians: young and old, single and married, from North to South. “It assures us that balancing our nation's diets is not just an aspiration but a mission that we must pursue with purpose and passion,” he said.
The Vice President further noted that while Nigeria faces recent floods and global inflationary pressures affecting food security, “our response must not only be innovative but must also address these challenges directly.
“Every naira invested in feeding our people produces many times greater benefits, not only in the health of our people, but in the security and future of our nation,” he added.
Vice President Shettima also highlighted the importance of follow-up and emphasized that local government councils that have shown commitment, zeal and passion to drive the process should be encouraged.
Earlier, the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, described the initiative of the National Nutrition Council as very crucial in addressing the plight of acute, sub-acute and chronic malnutrition, especially among vulnerable populations at the grassroots.
Noting that this must be addressed systemically, the Minister said: “The approach under the leadership of the Vice President is to facilitate, taking into account the national structure that we have – the federal government, the state governments and the local governments – and to bring together in all the interested parties to address the problem.
“We need to do this across all sectors – Agriculture, Health, Water and Sanitation, and Social Protection – bringing them all together to address this issue; Otherwise, we will be passing the buck without addressing the challenge we face. have.
“This will only be successful and sustainable if we forge a common direction as a strong collaborative partnership between the federal government, all ministries and subnational entities, local governments, development partners, civil society organizations and the private sector . And I think the vice president's leadership on this council has allowed everyone to come together as a core unit so we can proceed.”
For their part, representatives of development partners present at the meeting pledged their unconditional support for the nutrition program and commended the federal government for the initiative, while underlining their commitment to scaling up nutrition across the country.
Specifically, the Managing Director for Nigeria of the African Development Bank, Abdul Kamara, said the bank was pleased to be part of the federal government's initiative to address malnutrition and hunger, stating that the initiative is very timely as it Nutrition features prominently in AfDB programming and support across the continent.
He said that the bank is committed, in the medium and long term, to supporting initiatives that promote health infrastructure and technical support for related programs.
In the same vein, the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mr. Ndiamé Diop, said the vision of the 774 Grassroots Nutrition Initiative is compelling, just as the diagnosis is correct, and the framework aligns with global evidence. in the sector.
Pledgeing the World Bank's full support for the programme, the country director noted that the bank already has ongoing programs that are suitable to support the initiative.
He stressed the need for early mobilization of funding among public and private sector stakeholders to ensure the sustainability of the programme.
For her part, USAID Nigeria Mission Director Melissa Jones said the malnutrition crisis exacerbated by natural disasters, among other challenges, would require bold leadership in the humanitarian assistance space to address.
Noting that USAID aligns with the values and objectives outlined in the Grassroots Nutrition Initiative 774, he emphasized the need for stakeholders to synergize efforts and work as a group, even as he praised the government's initiative to prioritize local government administration in the framework of the program. .
Also present at the meeting were representatives from UNICEF, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), the World Food Program (WFO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations ( FAO), the European Union (EU), the Aliko Dangote Foundation, Bill and Melinda. Gates Foundation, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Islamic Development Bank and Nutrition Angel, among others.
*Stanley Nkwocha**Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications**(Office of the Vice President)*