FG, governors strengthen grassroots nutrition drive under Nutrition 774

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Federal Government and state governors have pledged deeper collaboration to take nutrition interventions directly to communities under the Nutrition 774 initiative, drawing key lessons from Ethiopia’s progress against child malnutrition.

This was made known in a press release issued by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications in the Office of the Vice President on Friday.

The commitments were made on the sidelines of the Nigeria–Ethiopia Nutrition Leadership Exchange in Addis Ababa, where a Nigerian delegation is led by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Officials emphasised coordinated action across health, education, agriculture, water, sanitation and social protection, with states and local governments expected to drive implementation at the household level.

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State stressed the need to focus on the most vulnerable.

“Especially for the young ones under five and, of course, pregnant women, it is very, very important. We have some success, but we can improve on it. That is why I am here, to learn from our counterparts in Ethiopia,” he said.

Abia State Governor Alex Otti noted that Nigeria should readily adopt proven approaches rather than start from scratch.

“There’s nothing wrong with saying that we have not done as well. And there’s also nothing wrong in learning from those who have done it, so that you don’t go reinventing the wheel,” Otti said.

He added that nutrition requires more than food security alone, “It’s also about health. It’s about education. It’s about climate change. It’s about agriculture.”

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate described nutrition as central to human capital development and said Nigeria and Ethiopia would develop a joint roadmap from the exchange.

“We have to now go back and deepen the progress, accelerate,” Pate stated, expressing optimism that sustained efforts over the next four to five years could yield significant gains for Nigerian children.

Other governors, including those of Zamfara and Jigawa, highlighted local challenges such as insecurity and the importance of pushing the Nutrition 774 agenda down to every ward and household.

Ministers of Education and Water Resources also linked nutrition outcomes to early childhood interventions and reliable water supply.