FG, states take Nutrition 774 initiative to grassroots, learn from Ethiopia
The federal government and state governments have pledged to strengthen grassroots nutrition programmes, drawing lessons from Ethiopia to tackle malnutrition and child stunting across Nigeria.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said Nigeria and Ethiopia would develop a roadmap to accelerate progress in nutrition delivery following a leadership exchange in Addis Ababa.
Pate spoke on the sidelines of the Nigeria–Ethiopia Nutrition Leadership Exchange, where the Nigerian delegation was led by Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
He said nutrition was central to human capital development and required coordinated action across government sectors and communities.
“Nutrition is key to human capital development, and it requires sectors to work together in a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach,” the minister said.
According to him, Nigeria had recorded progress through national interventions and community-based programmes but needed to deepen and accelerate implementation.
“We have to now go back and deepen the progress, accelerate,” Pate said, expressing optimism that sustained efforts over the next four to five years would produce significant improvements, particularly in children’s nutrition.
The Nutrition 774 Initiative is designed to extend nutrition interventions from the federal level to states, all 774 local government areas, wards, communities and households.
