The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has called for a shift from policy formulation to practical implementation of nutrition interventions.
The Minister made the call while receiving a delegation from the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), led by its President, Prof. Salisu Maiwada Abubakar, during a strategic courtesy visit to discuss practicalising nutrition solutions across the country.
She said that communities must be equipped with the knowledge, resources and skills needed to tackle malnutrition at the household level.
She noted that although Nigeria has developed several nutrition policies, the priority must now be effective deployment through family-centred interventions.
“So why are we making it complex for the people in the villages? We are talking about the families, the well-being and welfare of the families. When there’s more in the family, nutrition is going to be affected; malnutrition is not going to exist.
“While we’re being technical, for some people it is a matter of life and death. We’re busy trying to do frameworks, talk about crops. That is the response. But when it comes to prevention, make sure that the mothers are helped. So that’s my focus.”
Describing Nigeria’s nutrition challenges, she underscored the urgency of collaborative action.
“With over 40% of our children being stunted, I think we can collaborate in areas of advocacy and sensitisation, so that people understand the true context of the problem. Malnutrition cannot be solved by one entity or one organisation; it is multiple efforts by all the critical entities.”
The Minister highlighted ongoing interventions under the Ministry, including the nutrition component of the Renewed Hope Women’s Agricultural and Economic Empowerment Programme (RH-WAVE), the Renewed Hope WAVE 774 initiative and the Access to Nutrition Support and Assistance (ANSA) programme.
She said the Ministry is strengthening household resilience through supplementary nutrition kitchens and household nutrition gardens, charging, “Let somebody plant something.”
Earlier, President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Prof. Salisu Maiwada Abubakar, said the visit was to commend the Ministry’s growing leadership in the country’s nutrition landscape and deepen collaboration.
“One is to appreciate all that effort, and number two is also coming here again to appreciate that this is one of the ministries and agencies of government that were able to start a nutrition department after the NCN decided to approve its establishment. That’s very, very commendable.”
He said the Society was also seeking stronger collaboration to support the Ministry’s relatively young Nutrition Department through capacity building and nationwide outreach.
“We are a society that is in every local government. So I think by collaborating with you, it means we can spread the progress that we do have across the states and also the federation.”
Prof. Abubakar reaffirmed the Society’s commitment to supporting the Minister’s efforts with practical, household-centred nutrition interventions aimed at improving the health and well-being of Nigerian families.
