On April 12, 2025, the Health and Lifestyle Awareness Development Initiative (HLADI) joined senior government officials, civil society representatives, development partners, and technical experts at BON Hotel, Abuja for the official inauguration of the Technical Working Group (TWG) and the launch of the Consultants’ Workshop for the review of Nigeria’s National Policy on Food and Nutrition (NPFN). The event signaled a major milestone in Nigeria’s multisectoral effort to address malnutrition and strengthen the nation’s nutrition governance framework.
Convened by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning (FMBEP), the inauguration marked the beginning of an intensive policy review process designed to reposition nutrition as a national development priority. HLADI’s participation reflects its long-standing commitment to advancing nutrition, health equity, and community well-being across the country.
A Multisectoral Approach to Nutrition Reform
The TWG is composed of experts drawn from key ministries and government agencies, including:
- 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 the understanding that nutrition is a cross-cutting development issue that requires coordinated action across health, agriculture, education, finance, environment, industry, and social sectors.
Nigeria’s Nutrition Landscape: The Urgency for Reform
The workshop highlighted Nigeria’s current nutrition challenges, including:
- 63% of Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty
- 1 in 5 children experiencing food poverty
- 40% of children under five stunted
- 8% suffering from wasting
- A rising triple burden of malnutrition: undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and obesity
Despite rich agricultural potential, systemic gaps—ranging from limited access to nutritious foods to weak institutional frameworks—continue to impede progress. Participants emphasized that nutrition must be recognized as a fundamental human right, particularly for infants, children, and pregnant women.
Strengthening Institutions and Capacity
Discussions highlighted the need to reinforce institutional structures within MDAs to effectively implement the revised policy. Key recommendations included:
- Establishing dedicated Nutrition Units across MDAs
- Upgrading existing units into divisions and departments
- Embedding nutrition-sensitive programming across all sectors
- Enhancing labour protections for working mothers, especially around breastfeeding and maternity support
These reforms aim to create a strong, coordinated system capable of delivering nutrition interventions nationwide.
Policy Priorities and Strategic Direction
The revised National Policy on Food and Nutrition will be anchored on SMART objectives, with a focus on:
- Ensuring food security at all levels
- Reducing maternal and child malnutrition
- Addressing micronutrient deficiencies
- Expanding nutrition education and public awareness
- Mainstreaming nutrition into national and subnational development plans
These goals fall within six thematic pillars:
1. Food and Nutrition Security
2. Caregiving Capacity
3. Quality Health Services
4. Institutional Capacity
5. Awareness and Understanding
6. Resource Mobilization and Allocation
A detailed SWOT analysis guided discussions to ensure the revised policy responds to emerging trends, historical gaps, and current implementation challenges.
Governance and Accountability for Policy Implementation
Participants emphasized the importance of strong governance structures, including:
- The National Council on Nutrition, chaired by the Vice President
- The National Committee on Food and Nutrition
- State and LGA Committees on Food and Nutrition
- Ward-level committees for grassroots monitoring and accountability
Logistics, transportation, and emergency response systems were also highlighted as critical elements influencing nutrition outcomes.
Financing and Legislative Engagement
A central focus of the meeting was the need for sustainable financing for nutrition. Key points included:
- Scaling up budget allocations in line with the Abuja Declaration’s 4% target
- Increasing engagement with the National Assembly’s Committee on Food and Nutrition
- Strengthening co-financing at local government levels, including initiatives such as Nutrition 774
- Deepening private sector and donor involvement to expand investment in nutrition programming
A National Call to Action
The event concluded with a collective commitment to transform the policy review process into lasting national impact. A representative speaking on behalf of the Vice President emphasized:
“The goal is not just to review a policy but to shape the future of Nigeria’s children. This is about creating a legacy for generations.”
HLADI’s Contribution and Ongoing Commitment
HLADI’s participation reinforces its mission to support evidence-based policymaking and promote nutrition-sensitive development nationwide. Through ICT innovation, community engagement, and policy advocacy, HLADI will continue to:
- Support the rollout of the revised policy
- Strengthen grassroots adoption
- Promote inclusive, data-driven nutrition solutions
- Ensure no community is left behind in Nigeria’s nutrition transformation
HLADI remains dedicated to fostering a healthier, better-nourished Nigeria through collaboration, innovation, and sustained advocacy.