The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has urged state governments to enhance domestic investment in nutrition to address increasing stunting rates and improve child development outcomes across the South-West region of Nigeria. This appeal was made during a one-day regional workshop on the operationalisation of the Integrated Multisectoral Nutrition Intervention and the N-774 Initiative, held in Ibadan.
Workshop Objectives and Participants
The workshop aimed to strengthen collaboration between UNICEF and South-West states on a coordinated nutrition framework to combat malnutrition and enhance child survival. Organised by the Oyo State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in partnership with UNICEF, the event brought together permanent secretaries, health officials, and other stakeholders from Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo states. The theme was “Integrated Multisectoral Nutrition Programming in South-West States.”
UNICEF's Stance on Nutrition as a Child Rights Issue
Muhammad Okorie, UNICEF Programme Manager for the Lagos Field Office, described nutrition as a critical child rights issue with extensive implications for human capital development. He warned that poor nutrition, particularly within the first 1,000 days of life, can cause irreversible cognitive damage and reduced productivity later in life. “Nutrition is one of those very important child rights issues that must be addressed. The consequence of not taking nutrition seriously can deprive a child of vital intellectual capabilities, and unfortunately, these are not reversible,” he stated.
Okorie identified stunting as a major concern in the region, noting that it continues to undermine children's intellectual capacity and long-term development. He explained that the Federal Government's N-774 initiative provides a coordinated framework across federal, state, and local governments to improve planning, budgeting, and accountability in nutrition interventions.
Child Nutrition Fund as a Financing Mechanism
He also highlighted the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) as a key financing mechanism that enables states to access matching grants for nutrition commodities. According to him, if a state commits N100 million, UNICEF matches it with N200 million. “This is a low-hanging opportunity that states must take advantage of,” he said. Okorie disclosed that Oyo State has already benefited from the fund, with resources deployed for the procurement and distribution of nutrition commodities, and urged other states to prioritise annual budgetary allocations to sustain the initiative. “The funding environment is not guaranteed forever. States must increase domestic investment. The cost of inaction is far greater,” he added.
Stakeholder Perspectives
Dr Folasade Adeyemo, Chairman of Egbeda Local Government Area and representative of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Ogun State, emphasised that nutrition is central to health, education, and productivity. “Without proper nutrition, there will be no meaningful development. It is a multi-sectoral issue that must be tackled head-on,” she said.
Dr Abiodun Babalola, Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security in Oyo State, linked nutrition directly to economic growth and human capital development, stressing the need for sustained collaboration with development partners.
Government Commitment
Earlier, Tunde Ayanleke, Permanent Secretary of the Oyo State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, represented by Commissioner Seun Ashamu, described the workshop as timely. He noted that malnutrition, including stunting and micronutrient deficiencies, remains a major development challenge requiring coordinated, multi-sectoral responses. Ayanleke reiterated the state government's commitment to sustained investment in nutrition programmes, including the Child Nutrition Fund, while strengthening partnerships to improve outcomes. He added that the workshop would deepen understanding of the N-774 initiative, enhance coordination across states, and produce actionable roadmaps for improved nutrition financing and implementation. He urged participants to ensure that deliberations translate into concrete policy actions capable of accelerating progress in tackling malnutrition across the region.
