VP Shettima unveils nationwide ‘Nutrition 774 Initiative’

… urges global partners to tackle malnutrition in Nigeria

By Kunle Sanni

Vice President Kashim Shettima has unveiled the framework for the federal government’s comprehensive vision for a nationwide nutrition programme aimed at addressing malnutrition and food insecurity in Nigeria.

The proposed programme, the “Nutrition 774 Initiative,” seeks 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, VP 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 pursued food availability has gone hand-in-hand with our commitment to eradicating malnutrition.

“Our aspiration as a nation goes beyond merely filling barns and warehouses with food. We cannot claim victory unless there is certainty that every household across Nigeria has access to the balanced diets necessary for a healthy life,” the Vice President stated.

It should be recalled that the 144th meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) in September endorsed the Nutrition 774 programme as a key platform for combating malnutrition in Nigerian communities.

The Council encouraged development partners to provide financial and technical assistance to support the initiative.

During the roundtable, the Vice President urged development partners to support the initiative, recognizing the critical role of collaboration in addressing the nation’s nutritional challenges.

“This initiative must be owned by our development partners just as much as by the government, for we are all stakeholders in the emergence of a healthy, stable Nigeria,” he said.

VP Shettima explained that the Nutrition 774 Initiative adopts a grassroots-driven approach, empowering local actors to spearhead nutritional improvements in their communities. It also includes investment in local capacity through the training of health workers and community leaders.

“The Nutrition 774 Initiative is a pledge to all Nigerians—young and old, single and married, from North to South. It assures us that balancing the diets of our nation is not just a goal but a mission we must pursue with purpose and passion,” he noted.

The Vice President also addressed the recent challenges posed by floods and global inflation, which are affecting food security, emphasizing that “our response must be innovative and directly tackle these challenges. Every Naira invested in the nourishment of our people yields returns many times over—not only in their health but in the security and future of our nation,” he added.

VP Shettima stressed the importance of monitoring, highlighting that local governments that demonstrate commitment and zeal in driving the process should be incentivized.

Earlier, the Coordinating Minister of Health & Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, described the initiative under the National Council on Nutrition as crucial in addressing acute, sub-acute, and chronic malnutrition, particularly among vulnerable populations at the grassroots.

The Minister noted that the issue must be tackled systematically. “The approach under the leadership of the Vice President considers the national structure we have—the federal government, state governments, and local governments—and aims to bring all stakeholders together to address this issue.

“This initiative will only succeed if we forge a common direction, ensuring a strong collaborative partnership among the federal government, ministries, subnational entities, local governments, development partners, civil society organizations, and the private sector. The Vice President’s leadership has enabled all of us to come together as a central unit for this purpose.”

Representatives of development partners present at the meeting pledged their full support for the nutrition programme, commending the federal government for the initiative and stressing its importance in scaling up nutrition across the country.

The Director General for Nigeria, African Development Bank, Mr. Abdul Kamara, expressed the bank’s pleasure in being part of the federal government’s initiative to combat malnutrition and hunger, noting that the initiative is timely, as nutrition is a key focus in AfDB’s programming across the continent.

He added that the bank is committed to supporting health infrastructure and providing technical assistance for related programmes.

Similarly, the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mr. Ndiamé Diop, praised the Nutrition 774 Grassroots Initiative, describing it as compelling and aligned with global best practices.

Pledging the World Bank’s full support, he emphasized the need for prompt mobilization of finance across stakeholders to ensure the programme’s sustainability.

USAID Mission Director in Nigeria, Melissa Jones, highlighted the urgent need for bold leadership in addressing malnutrition, particularly given the exacerbating effects of natural disasters.

She affirmed USAID’s alignment with the values and goals of the Nutrition 774 Grassroots Initiative and praised the federal government’s prioritization of local government involvement in the programme.

Also present at the meeting were representatives from UNICEF, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the European Union (EU), the Aliko Dangote Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Islamic Development Bank, and Nutrition Angel, among others.