The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Emeka Vitalis Obi mni, has called on all Nutrition Stakeholders to collaborate with relevant sectors to ensure holistic implementation of nutrition activities that will cascade to the villages, communities, Local Government Areas and Wards, across the country.
Dr. Obi made this call while declaring open the 2025 First quarter conference of the National Committee on Food and Nutrition (NCFN) held yesterday, in Nasarawa State.
The Two-day conference was to review the level of implementation of food and Nutrition in Nigeria, specifically, the multisectoral plan of action, in line with the National Food and Nutrition policy.
Addressing participants at the conference, Dr. Obi mni, said that the gathering was an opportunity to discuss the challenges that might have been identified in the course of implementation of the activities which were relevant to various Organizations from January to March,2025; and evaluate planned activities for the second quarter(Q2) in 2025.
Dr. Obi recalled that, one of the outcomes of the first bi-annual conference of the National Council on Nutrition, chaired by the Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima GCON, held on 20th March was for all MDAs to align their Annual Operational Plans and Strategy with the Nutrition774(N774) Initiative.
The N774 initiative, Dr. Obi explained, was aimed at catalyzing nationwide implementation of nutrition interventions and programmes from the local Government level, so that nutrition would be a bottom-top approach to achieve a better nutrition outcome in Nigeria.
He charged members of the Committee to key into the flagship programme, liaise with its Technical Team in the Office of the VP(Nutrition-774), the State Committee on Food and Nutrition (SCFN) and Local Government Committee on Food and Nutrition(LGCFN) in order to reach the grassroot for effective implementation of Food and Nutrition programmes.
Noting the establishment of Nutrition Departments in some relevant MDAs, as announced recently by the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs.Didi Esther Walson-Jack CON,mni, the Permanent Secretary urged other MDAs who were yet to do so, to push for the creation of Nutrition Departments and a budget line from their respective MDAs.
He commended members for their efforts in ensuring that plans and programmes that promote the nutritional well-being of Nigerian citizens were delivered.
His words “As we navigate the complex challenges of our times, the importance of your contributions cannot be overemphasized. Your commitment to enhancing food security, promoting healthy eating habits and addressing nutrition needs is essential for the physical and mental health of Nigerians’’
Obi appreciated UNICEF and the World Bank for organizing the conference in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
In his welcome speech, the Director of Social Development in the Ministry, Dr. Sanjo Faniran, said that all the various Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) represented at the conference were expected to update committee members on key indicators achieved from the implementation of the National Multisectoral Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition (NMPFAN 2021-2025).
He also informed that the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning had commenced the review process on the National Policy on Food and Nutrition as well as its implementation strategy. Dr. Faniran encouraged all the committee members to start looking at the emergent issues confronting the implementation of the policy and its plan at their various sectors and come up with concrete solutions in addressing those challenges to avoid future hinderance in the nutrition intervention implementation.
Speaking on behalf of all relevant MDAs, the Director of Nutrition, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Alhaji N.I.Kilishi, advised members to take advantage of the goodwill demonstrated by the management of Budget and Economic Planning Ministry, to make significant progress in the implementation of Nutrition intervention programmes. He further pledged his unflinching support to encourage the team spirit among members that would ensure the achievement of expected goals.
Other notable personalities at the conference were: The Representative of African Development Bank, Mr.Victor Ajeroh, the Erudite Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics Department, University of Nigeria, Nsukka/Chairperson of National Nutrition Technical Working Group, Prof.Ngozi Nnam, the Head of Academia Research Network, Prof.Kola Anigo, the Representative of Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria(CS-SUNN), GAIN, among others.
Imaobong Udoh
for: D/Information and PR (BEP)
09/04/25.