The Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Lagos State Government and key international development partners, has pledged to intensify efforts to combat the country’s escalating nutrition crisis, which currently affects over 26.5 million Nigerians.
This commitment was reaffirmed at the Scaling-Up Nutrition (SUN) Civil Society Alliances Regional Workshop for West and Central Africa, held in Lagos.
Uju Rochas-Anwukah, the Special Assistant to the President on Public Health and the national focal person for nutrition, delivered a compelling address at the event. She called for an end to the practice of merely managing malnutrition, urging African leaders to confront it decisively.
“This is not the time to stand aside and watch while millions of our children suffer,” she declared, stressing the urgency of shifting from rhetoric to bold, grassroots-driven action.
At the heart of Nigeria’s renewed approach is the Nutrition 774 Initiative, launched in February 2024. The program marks a major milestone in the nation’s nutrition policy, aiming to unify all 774 local government areas under one coordinated, results-focused strategy.
Supported by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the initiative integrates sectors like health, agriculture, education, water and sanitation (WASH), and social welfare, and ties funding to measurable outcomes—such as lower child wasting rates, better maternal nutrition, and stronger community health systems. Rochas-Anwukah emphasized the initiative’s bottom-up design, describing it as “a people-centred reform, not a top-down decree.”
Civil society organizations were acknowledged as vital players in this transformation. Rochas-Anwukah described them as “the soul of the struggle,” uniquely positioned to reach communities where formal institutions often cannot.
Under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, she confirmed that civil society will now take a central role—not just in advocacy, but in co-developing policies and solutions.
She urged CSOs to maintain pressure on governments, monitor budgets, count affected children, and demand accountability, saying, “That is not rebellion—it is responsible patriotism.”
She also encouraged the use of storytelling as a tool to humanize statistics and amplify local successes. “Let the world hear the midwife in Borno who saved 200 babies, or the village in Kano that ended stunting. Numbers show problems, but stories drive change,” she said.
Hon. Chike Okafor, Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, described the current hunger crisis as “deeply disturbing” and called for legislative urgency to reverse it. He affirmed the House of Representatives’ determination to introduce and fund impactful policies that would close nutrition gaps.
He also called for stronger partnerships between lawmakers, state governments, and civil society, praising CS-SUNN’s role in evidence-based advocacy that continues to spotlight Nigeria’s nutrition challenges.
From the state level, Lagos reaffirmed its position as a strong supporter of nutritional advancement. Speaking on behalf of the Lagos State Government, Dr. Oluwatoni Adeyemi, Senior Special Assistant on Health, highlighted Lagos’ commitment to innovative partnerships aimed at safeguarding vulnerable populations.
She praised the SUN Movement and its civil society partners for fostering multi-sectoral cooperation in the fight against malnutrition. “This gathering of nutrition champions provides a much-needed platform for knowledge-sharing and policy dialogue,” she added.
International representatives also weighed in. Judith Kaboré, Country Action Specialist at the SUN Movement Secretariat in Dakar, painted a grim picture of the situation across West and Central Africa.
According to her, over 16.7 million children are currently affected by acute malnutrition, with 6.9 million people suffering from global acute malnutrition in six Saharan countries alone—including 1.4 million in severe condition. More than 30 percent of children under five are also impacted by stunting.
Kaboré stressed that these statistics reflect real human suffering and lost development potential. She commended civil society actors for their resilience and passion, especially in an era of diminishing donor support.
Despite financial constraints, civil society remains instrumental in pushing reforms, raising awareness, and holding governments accountable.
She urged participants to use the SUN 4.0 strategy (2026–2030) and its regional civil society roadmap to guide and strengthen their efforts. “It’s not just about policy—it’s about purpose, heart, and consistency,” she said.
Mr. Sunday Okoronkwo, Executive Secretary of CS-SUNN, echoed similar sentiments. He emphasized the power of unity in addressing a common threat like malnutrition, applauding the Nigerian government’s Nutrition 774 initiative for pushing solutions to the grassroots.
However, he warned that without adequate funding and sustained implementation, the vision may fall short. “The plans are there, but we must act together to ensure they reach the children and communities who need them most,” he said.
The workshop was aimed at strengthening cross-country cooperation and refining strategies to improve nutrition outcomes across the region. Participants shared best practices in advocacy, program design, and policy implementation.
It was made possible through partnerships with major international organizations, including UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN).
As Nigeria and its partners renew their focus on tackling malnutrition, the overarching message from the workshop was clear: bold leadership, grassroots action, and sustained collaboration are crucial to defeating this silent epidemic once and for all.