NUTRITION PROGARAMME BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT : VICE PRESIDENT OUTLINES FRAMEWORK

In combating the issue of food insecurity and malnutrition in Nigeria, the federal government has mapped out a nation wide nutrition programme.

The nation wide nutrition programme tagged – “Nutrition 774 Initiative,” aims to improve nutritional value across all 774 local government areas (LGAs) in the country.

Recall that the 114th National Economic Council (NEC) meeting held in September endorsed the nutrition 774 programme. This programme aims at fighting the issue of malnutrition within the 774 local government areas in Nigeria. The council also requested that  developmental partners provide financial and technical assistance to support this programme.

Speaking on this, the Vice president-  Kashim Shettima  has unveiled the framework of this initiative. He also requested that developmental agencies/partners support this programme to combat malnutrition. He also identifies the essence of collaboration in sorting the nation’s nutritional needs.

According to Vice President Shettima, Nutrition 774 Initiative is an assurance to all Nigerians both young and old, single and married and from North to South. It is an assurance that balancing the diets of our nation is not just an aspiration but a mission tthat must be pursued with purpose and passion.

During his conversation with the developmental partners on Tuesday in Abuja, he identified that this initiative aligns with the goal of His Excellency- Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Vice president shettima stated that,
“Our aspiration as a nation goes beyond the mere abundance of food in our barns and warehouses. We cannot claim victory unless there is a certainty that each household across Nigeria has access to the preferred and prescribed diets essential for a healthy life,”
He went further to state that “Every Naira invested in the nourishment of our people yields returns many times over—not just in the health of our people, but in the security and future of our nation,”  and that,
“This initiative must be owned by our development partners just as much as it is by the government, for each of us is a stakeholder in the emergence of a healthy, stable Nigeria”

Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhamed Pate opined that the
Programme will help in addressing the situation of acute and chronic Malnutrition among vulnerable members of the grass root and this must be dealt with systematically.

The minister of health stated further that,
“This will only be successful and sustainable if we forge a common direction as a strong collaborative partnership among the federal government across ministries and subnational entities, with local governments, development partners, civil society organisations and the private sector. And I think the leadership of the Vice President in this council has enabled all these to come together as a central unit for us to proceed.”

As the meeting proceeded, the representatives of the development partners pledged their support for the nutrition programme while commending the federal government for the initiative. In attendance was the Director General for Nigeria, African Development Bank , Mr Abdul Kamara . He stated that he was pleased to be a part of this initiative as it is closely related with the vision of African Development Bank programming and support across the continent.

The world Bank of Nigeria’s director – Mr Ndiamé Diop,pledged the world Bank full support as the initiative is compelling and the diagnosis was right.  He also mentioned that the word Bank has its programme that tallies with the ongoing programmes. Hence, their support. He mentioned that, mobilisation for funds across stake holders in the private and public sectors be done to ensure sustainability of the programme.

The USAID director in Nigeria’- Melissa Jones confirmed that the values and objectives in the Federal government fight for Malnutrition allligns with theirs and emphasized that stake holders work as a group for the actualization of this treat. She also commended the Federal Governments initiative in prioritising local governments administration in the programmes frame work.

Partners to this meeting includes the representatives of UNICEF, UK Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), World Food Programme (WFO), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the European Union (EU), Aliko Dangote Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Islamic Development Bank, and Nutrition Angel, among others.