Inauguration of the Technical Working Group and Consultants’ Workshop for the Review of the National Policy on Food and Nutrition
By HLADI Staff Reporter
Held at BON Hotel, Abuja – 12th April 2025
In a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s fight against malnutrition, the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, in partnership with key ministries and development stakeholders, inaugurated the Technical Working Group (TWG) and launched the Consultants’ Workshop for the review of the National Policy on Food and Nutrition on April 12th, 2025, at BON Hotel in Abuja.
The event represented more than a policy revision—it was a declaration of Nigeria’s renewed national commitment to nutrition security, human capital development, and sustainable growth. Among the notable attendees was the team from the Health and Lifestyle Awareness Development Initiative (HLADI), whose involvement reflects the organization’s deep-rooted commitment to advancing nutrition and health equity in Nigeria.
A Multisectoral Engine for Reform
The TWG, now formally inaugurated, is designed as a diverse, multisectoral body with representatives from across critical government ministries. These include:
- Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning
- Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
- Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security
- Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy
- Federal Ministry of Education
- Federal Ministry of Environment
- Federal Ministry of Finance
- Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment
- Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation
- Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment
This broad representation underscores a growing recognition: nutrition is not solely a health issue—it is an economic, educational, and social imperative that cuts across every sector of development.
Understanding the Urgency: Nigeria’s Nutrition Landscape
Stakeholders reviewed the sobering reality of Nigeria’s current nutrition indicators:
- 63% of Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty
- 1 in 5 children suffers from food poverty
- 40% of children under five are stunted
- 8% of children suffer from wasting
- Nigeria faces the triple burden of undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and rising obesity
Despite the nation’s rich agricultural potential, systemic issues such as inadequate access to nutritious food, insufficient public awareness, and weak institutional frameworks continue to impede progress.
The review process of the National Policy on Food and Nutrition is therefore not just timely—it is critical. Participants reiterated that nutrition must be framed as a human right, especially for vulnerable populations such as infants, children, and pregnant women.
Rebuilding Institutions and Capacity
Speakers emphasized the urgent need for institutional strengthening within Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). Many agencies remain unaware of their roles in advancing nutrition, prompting calls for:
- The establishment of dedicated nutrition units within MDAs
- Structural elevation from units to divisions, and eventually departments
- Stronger integration of nutrition-sensitive programming into all development sectors
- Additional discussions highlighted the importance of labour protections for working mothers, particularly around breastfeeding and maternal leave—key factors in early child nutrition.
Policy Focus Areas and Strategic Goals
The revised policy aims to be more than a statement of intent. It will be grounded in SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound) objectives, with a targeted focus on:
- Ensuring food security at national, community, and household levels
- Reducing maternal and child malnutrition
- Addressing micronutrient deficiencies
- Promoting nutrition education and public awareness
- Mainstreaming nutrition into all development plans
These objectives are framed within six strategic thematic areas:
- Food and Nutrition Security
- Caregiving Capacity
- Quality Health Services
- Institutional Capacity
- Awareness and Understanding
- Resource Mobilization and Allocation
A SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) was conducted to guide the process in an evidence-driven direction, ensuring the revised policy responds to both historical challenges and emerging threats.
Governance, Accountability, and Grassroots Involvement
Participants emphasized the importance of strong governance structures for the successful implementation of the revised policy. These include:
- The National Council on Nutrition, chaired by the Vice President
- The National Committee on Food and Nutrition, serving as the policy coordination body
- State and Local Government Committees on Food and Nutrition
-Ward-level Committees, which remain critical to community-level monitoring but are often underutilized
Discussions also highlighted the need to strengthen logistics, transportation, and emergency food response systems—linking nutrition to wider infrastructural development and national security concerns.
Financing the Future: Resource Mobilization and Legislative Support
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning urged stakeholders to scale up budgetary commitments to nutrition. Echoing the call for accountability, participants pushed for adherence to the Abuja Declaration’s 4% budget allocation target for nutrition.
Additional emphasis was placed on:
- Increased engagement with the National Assembly's House Committee on Food and Nutrition
- Co-financing mechanisms at local government levels, including the community-driven Nutrition 774 initiative
- Private sector and donor partnerships to expand investment in nutrition programming
From Vision to Legacy: A National Call to Action
As the workshop concluded, a unifying message emerged: this is about legacy. Nutrition must no longer be an afterthought. It is central to Nigeria’s future—its economy, its productivity, and its human capital.
A representative speaking on behalf of the Vice President powerfully framed the moment:
“The goal is not just to review a policy but to shape the future of Nigeria’s children. This is about creating a legacy that will define generations.”
HLADI’s Commitment to the Nutrition Agenda
HLADI’s participation in this landmark event aligns with its mission to promote inclusive development, health equity, and community empowerment. With a strong presence in nutrition program implementation and policy advocacy, HLADI stands ready to support the review, rollout, and grassroots adoption of the revised policy.
We echo the event’s core message: nutrition is everyone’s business. The path forward requires collaboration, accountability, and urgency—from federal leaders to local champions.
As the policy review gains momentum, HLADI remains committed to ensuring that no Nigerian is left behind in the journey toward a nourished and healthy future.