Abuja: Vice-President Kashim Shettima has emphasized the significant returns on investment in nutrition, highlighting that every dollar invested yields an estimated return of $23. He made these remarks at a conference on Mobilising Against Malnutrition in North-West Nigeria, organized by the Katsina State Government, North-West Governors Forum, and M©decins Sans Fronti¨res (MSF).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Shettima, represented by Mrs. Uju Rochas-Anwukah, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health and Focal Person on Nutrition in the Office of the Vice President, stated that investing in nutrition is equivalent to investing in human capital, crucial for Nigeria’s future growth and development. He expressed concern over the thousands of children and pregnant women who die each year due to malnutrition-related causes, leaving millions more mentally and physically impaired.
Shettima further highlighted the economic impact of malnutrition, with an estimated $56 billion lost annually in human capital, equivalent to 12.2% of Nigeria’s national income. He urged decisive action, emphasizing that solutions to malnutrition are evidence-based, cost-effective, and proven to save lives when implemented effectively. He noted that treating malnourished children saves lives and that prevention helps them grow, learn, and thrive, stressing that nutrition should be viewed as an investment rather than a cost.
Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State reiterated his administration’s commitment to addressing malnutrition’s root causes, noting that North-West governors are pursuing comprehensive reforms across multiple sectors. He announced that Katsina has contributed N1 billion to the Child Nutrition Fund, with UNICEF matching funds in subsequent years. The state government is also enhancing Outpatient Therapeutic Programmes (OTPs), stabilisation centres, and local production of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to ensure consistent supply and stimulate the local economy.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, described malnutrition as one of Nigeria’s most pressing challenges, particularly in the North-West. Represented by the ministry’s Director of Nutrition, Mrs. Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, he cited the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), which reported high rates of wasting and stunting across several states. Pate emphasized the need for coordinated action from states, donors, and partners, as government efforts alone are insufficient to address the challenge.
MSF Country Representative Dr. Ahmed Aldikhari noted that Nigeria is the country where MSF treats the highest number of children with acute malnutrition globally. In 2024 alone, nearly 300,000 children with Severe Acute Malnutrition were admitted to outpatient units across northern Nigeria. Aldikhari commended ongoing efforts by federal and state governments but called for stronger collaboration and additional partner support to address the crisis’s urgency.
The conference brought together various stakeholders, including government representatives, development partners, civil society groups, the private sector, and philanthropies, to align strategies, mobilize resources, and turn shared commitments into concrete actions.