Addis Ababa:The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has advocated for an enhanced role in addressing child malnutrition through initiatives such as school feeding, health, and nutrition education programs.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Alausa made these remarks during the Ethiopia-Nigeria Leadership Exchange on Moving the Needle on Nutrition in Addis Ababa. He emphasized the necessity of collaboration among ministries and all levels of government to ensure that nutritional interventions effectively reach children and families.
Dr. Alausa highlighted the crucial connection between education and children’s nutrition, health, and overall development. He pointed out that school feeding programs can significantly improve children’s nutrition and encourage regular school attendance.
The minister discussed plans to integrate nutrition-related studies into the school curriculum, aiming to educate children about healthy eating and lifestyles. These initiatives are expected to be incorporated into local government plans on food and nutrition and reflected in the Nutrition 774 local government scorecard.
He stressed the importance of implementing national policies effectively at the state and local levels, with clear targets and monitoring systems. Dr. Alausa also called for increased focus on early childhood care beyond the first 1,000 days of life, emphasizing continuous support for children’s nutritional and developmental needs.
The minister underscored the value of reliable data to identify those in need and track the success of nutrition interventions. He noted that Nigeria could learn from Ethiopia’s approach to coordinating nutrition programs and mobilizing resources while adapting these strategies to fit Nigeria’s specific context.
Dr. Alausa reaffirmed the ministry’s dedication to collaborating with other ministries, state and local governments, and development partners to enhance education-related interventions under the Nutrition 774 Initiative.