The silent battle against malnutrition in Nigeria is gaining new momentum. At the heart of this fight is the Nutrition 774 Initiative, which seeks to improve nutrition outcomes in every Local Government Area across the country.
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The Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Office of the Vice President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tackling malnutrition through the Nutrition 774 Initiative.
Speaking at a two-day workshop on the Review and Finalization of the Standard Operating Procedure of the 774 Initiative in Abuja the nation’s capital, Senator Hassan emphasized the importance of finalizing the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to guide implementation across all 774 local government areas in Nigeria.
“This is about ensuring no child or community is left behind,” he said, emphasizing that multi-sectoral collaboration is critical for the initiative’s success. “From health and agriculture to education and social protection, every sector must play a role to combat the malnutrition crisis stunting the nation’s future”. He said.
He reiterated the Tinubu administration’s commitment to human capital development, with nutrition prioritized on the national agenda. “The Nutrition 774 framework aims to deliver high-impact, community-focused interventions at the grassroots level, backed by strong coordination among federal, state, and local governments, development partners, civil society, and the private sector”.
He urged stakeholders to ensure transparency, strong coordination, and accountability for the initiative’s success. Ministries, legislators, and other partners were called upon to align their efforts and allocate sufficient resources to nutrition.
The Special Assistant to the Vice President on Public Health, Uju Rochas-Anwukah emphasized the critical role of nutrition in national development, describing it as the foundation for a healthier and more productive society, underscoring the need for stronger efforts to bridge nutritional gaps across Nigeria.
“The Nutrition 774 initiative is a government-led, multi-sectoral effort aimed at strengthening governance, improving financing and fostering political commitment toward nutrition across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas”. It seeks to scale up evidence-based interventions across sectors such as health, education, agriculture, social protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)”. She said.
Rochas-Anwukah highlighted that this approach recognizes that nutrition is a collective responsibility, not limited to one ministry or sector.
“Endorsed by the National Economic Council, Nutrition 774 is now positioned as a national priority in the administration’s agenda. A major milestone is the creation of a House Committee on Food and Nutrition at both federal and state levels to ensure sustained political commitment and legislative support for nutrition-related policies and budgets.
Recognizing Nigeria’s cultural diversity, Rochas-Anwukah stated that the initiative would be driven by local solutions tailored to the specific needs of each region. “The framework encourages ownership at the state and local government levels, using centralization mechanisms to reward progress”. She stressed that the initiative will leverage existing structures rather than create new ones to ensure faster and more sustainable results.
Rochas-Anwukah expressed gratitude to Vice President Kashim Shettima for his leadership as Chair of the National Council on Nutrition and appreciated the contributions of various ministries, development partners, donor organizations, and private sector stakeholders.
She urged all stakeholders to move from planning to action, emphasizing that the initiative is not just about protocols but about unlocking the potential of every Nigerian child and family.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Emeka Vitalis who spoke virtually emphasized the need for holistic implementation and accountability in Nigeria’s nutrition interventions, highlighting the critical role of nutrition in fostering economic resilience and achieving key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as good health and well-being.
“The Nutrition 774 Initiative, a flagship program of the administration led by Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, focuses on delivering sustainable nutrition interventions across all 774 local government areas (LGAs) in Nigeria”. He said.
Dr. Emeka explained that the initiative’s five-pillar structure aims to improve maternal and child health outcomes while driving the nation’s progress towards SDG 2 and SDG 3.
He also called for the development of clear guidelines and accountability mechanisms to ensure transparency and efficient service delivery at the local government level. He emphasized that collaboration with development partners, non-governmental organizations, and key stakeholders would be essential for the program’s success.
The workshop aims to finalize a blueprint for action that will deliver data-driven, community-focused interventions. The Deputy Chief of Staff expressed confidence that the SOP will mark significant progress in improving nutrition outcomes across the nation.
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