The Japanese government donated $200,000 to support efforts of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in implementing life-saving nutrition for thousands of displaced women in northeast Nigeria.
Chi Lael, WFP Nigeria’s Head of Communications, said the funding helped to ensure 2,848 pregnant and breastfeeding women in 2024 — providing fortified foods and essential nutrition education.
“This support enabled the delivery of fortified foods and community-based nutrition education to affected populations at a time of record hunger in the region,” Chi Lael said.
“The impact of this partnership represents a renewed sense of hope for women striving to survive amidst adversity.”
Concerted efforts by the Nigerian government have helped stabilise the country’s North-East after years of insurgency.
Effective military operations to eradicate insurgency activities and rehabilitation of repentant combatants have helped to restore peace and concord in the region.
With the support of international organisations like WFP, the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), re-construction of affected public infrastructure has recorded tremendous progress.
In terms of impact, women bore the brunt – facing hunger, displacement, and lack of access to healthcare. For pregnant women, these hardships heighten vulnerability, making targeted nutrition interventions not just necessary, but critical for survival.
Agenda
The WFP has targeted 5 million people in Nigeria’s North-East – with the goal of tackling extreme hunger – with women and girls being the most at risk.
Due to funding shortfalls, WFP is beginning to cut food and nutrition assistance to hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people – like Iya – across northeastern #Nigeria
“Families pushed beyond their limits are left with nowhere to turn.” https://t.co/2qJ6tLxbFe
— World Food Programme (@WFP) August 10, 2025
Despite funding cuts and escalating insecurity, Lael assured that the WFP will continue to stand with affected communities—delivering hope, saving lives, and changing futures.
WFP has held hunger at bay during the first half of 2025, particularly in conflict-affected areas in the North, reaching more than 1.3 million people with life-saving food and nutrition assistance.