Dutse: Gov. Umar Namadi of Jigawa has inaugurated the State Nutrition Council to fulfill the requirements of the Presidential Nutrition 774 Initiative.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Namadi, who chairs the council, pledged to champion the presidential initiative as he received the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, Mrs. Uju Rochas-Anwukah, during her courtesy visit.
‘I will lead the Presidential Nutrition 774 Initiative with Jigawa’s commitment and huge investment to the fight against malnutrition in the state,’ Namadi stated. He emphasized that the state invests N13.5 million on nutrition monthly, with the Jigawa State House of Assembly contributing N300 million annually for the purchase of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods. This investment has reportedly rescued about 300,000 children from malnutrition.
Namadi disclosed that approximately 1.2 million people are collaborating to tackle malnutrition in Jigawa through initiatives like the Masaki Nutrition Programme. His administration has also invested in local production of food supplements for children, training 600 women in production and packaging. He noted that they are awaiting registration from the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for the supplements to enter the Nigerian market.
While expressing reservations about the data on the state’s malnutrition status, Namadi assured that accurate figures would be provided to the Nutrition 774 for effective correction. Mrs. Rochas-Anwukah, in an earlier presentation, stressed the need for Jigawa to scale up efforts in combating nutrition challenges. She highlighted the project’s strategy, which requires Nigerian State Governors to establish State Nutrition Committees, with themselves as chairmen.
The initiative, officially launched by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, aims to address malnutrition in Nigeria. Mrs. Rochas-Anwukah urged Jigawa to implement the initiative effectively, including timely release of funds and approval of maternity and paternity leave. She also recommended establishing nutrition departments in various ministries and creating centres of excellence as one-stop solutions.
According to NAN, the Nutrition 774 Initiative is designed to stimulate local action and improve food security, health, and nutrition across Nigeria. It is a comprehensive multi-sectoral effort to address the country’s nutrition and food security challenges, fostering community engagement, multi-level governance, and collaboration. The programme was officially launched at the 148th National Executive Council meeting in Abuja.