The Federal Government has reiterated commitment to promote sustainable nutrition activities in the country.
Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Office of the Vice-President, said this at a news conference on Monday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the news conference centred on the forthcoming High-Level Dialogue of Faith Leaders on Nutrition in Nigeria, schedule to hold on Tuesday, April 23.
Hadejia stated that Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who is the Chairman of the National Council on Nutrition, is passionately committed to advancing initiatives that promote sustainable nutrition in the country.
“Therefore, the upcoming high level dialogue between the National Council on Nutrition and faith leaders will provide platform for strategic discussion and commitment toward sustainable nutrition investments for the benefits of all Nigerians.
“This event will bring together members of the National Council on Nutrition, governors, ministers, development partners and the highest apex bodies of faith and traditional institutions to establish effective and sustainable partnership in nutrition advocacy and implementation.
“It will represent significant opportunity to align our efforts with the national agenda and the vision to set forward by the Renewed Hope Agenda under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu.”
He noted that the fight against malnutrition is not for government or organisations alone.
He added that the task is a collective responsibility that requires active participation of all segments of the society.
Dr Ojuolape Solanke, the National Project Manager, Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRIN) project, said nutrition is one of the priorities of President Tinubu’s administration, knowing how it relates to growth, development and economic prosperity.
Solanke added that “from statistics available, about 37 per cent of Nigerian children suffer from one form of chronic malnutrition, which is exemplified by stunting and micro nutrients deficiency.
“This has also been linked to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of any nation. Nigeria loses close to about 11 per cent of GDP because of this critical malnutrition.
“And it has been stated specifically that the first 1,000 days of any child is important.
“And if we miss this window of opportunity to reach out to the vulnerable group of children that really need this intervention, then we are going for malnutrition.”
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On her part, Dr Zainab Muhammad-Idris, the Project Coordinator of ANRIN, Kaduna State, said faith actors have a role to play in ensuring that the right messages reached followers, especially at the grassroots.
“So, we are working closely with our non-state actors to ensure that sermons delivered by our state faith leaders reach the population that are being served.
“And they use that especially the scriptures to ensure the right messages lead to informed choices and decisions so that maternal infant and young child nutrition practices are improved across the country.” (NAN)
