The United Nations Children’s Fund has called on state governments in the South-West to increase domestic investment in nutrition programmes to tackle rising cases of child stunting and poor development outcomes.
The appeal was made during a one-day regional workshop on the operationalisation of the Integrated Multisectoral Nutrition Intervention and the N-774 Initiative, held in Ibadan.
The workshop, organised by the Oyo State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in collaboration with UNICEF, brought together key government officials and stakeholders from Ekiti State, Lagos State, Ogun State, Ondo State, Osun State and Oyo State to strengthen regional collaboration on nutrition financing and implementation.
Speaking at the event, UNICEF Programme Manager, Lagos Field Office, Muhammad Okorie, described nutrition as a fundamental child rights issue with significant implications for human capital development.
He warned that poor nutrition, particularly within the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, could result in irreversible cognitive damage and reduced productivity in adulthood.
Okorie identified stunting as a major concern in the region, stressing that it continues to undermine children’s intellectual capacity and long-term growth.
He explained that the Federal Government’s N-774 initiative provides a coordinated framework for improved planning, budgeting and accountability across federal, state and local levels.
The UNICEF official also highlighted the Child Nutrition Fund as a strategic financing mechanism that allows states to access matching grants for nutrition commodities.
According to him, states that commit N100 million can receive up to N200 million in counterpart funding from UNICEF.
He noted that Oyo State had already benefited from the initiative, with funds deployed for the procurement and distribution of essential nutrition commodities, urging other states to prioritise similar investments.
“The funding environment is not guaranteed forever. States must increase domestic investment. The cost of inaction is far greater,” he said.
In her remarks, Chairman of Egbeda Local Government Area and representative of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria in Ogun State, Dr Folasade Adeyemo, said nutrition remains central to health, education and productivity.
“Without proper nutrition, there will be no meaningful development. It is a multi-sectoral issue that must be tackled head-on,” she said.
Also speaking, Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security in Oyo State, Dr Abiodun Babalola, linked improved nutrition to economic growth and human capital development, calling for sustained collaboration with development partners.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Tunde Ayanleke, represented by Commissioner Seun Ashamu, described the workshop as timely, noting that malnutrition—particularly stunting and micronutrient deficiencies—remains a major development challenge.
He reiterated the state government’s commitment to sustained investment in nutrition programmes, including the Child Nutrition Fund, while strengthening partnerships to improve outcomes.
Ayanleke added that the workshop would enhance coordination across states and produce actionable roadmaps aimed at improving nutrition financing and implementation across the South-West.
He urged participants to ensure that discussions translate into concrete policy actions capable of accelerating progress in tackling malnutrition in the region.
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