State governments in Nigeria’s South-West have been urged to deepen financial commitments to nutrition programmes, particularly the N774 initiative, amid growing concerns over the long-term impact of malnutrition on children and economic development.
The call was made during a high-level meeting on integrated multisectoral nutrition programming held in Ibadan, Oyo State. The meeting was convened by the Oyo State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund.
The forum brought together permanent secretaries, executive secretaries of primary healthcare boards, and nutrition experts from Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, and Lagos states to review progress on the N774 initiative and explore strategies for scaling its implementation across the region.
Speaking at the event, UNICEF Programme Manager, Lagos Field Office, Mohammed Okorie, revealed that the South-West currently records an average child stunting rate of 21 per cent. He warned that failure to address malnutrition within the early stages of life could have irreversible consequences.
“The consequence of not taking nutrition seriously is that a child can be deprived of vital intellectual capabilities, and unfortunately, these are not reversible,” Okorie said, stressing the importance of interventions within the first 1,000 days of life.
He explained that the N774 initiative was designed to strengthen coordination across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas, promoting multisectoral planning, budgeting, and accountability in nutrition programming.
Okorie also highlighted the Child Nutrition Fund as a key financing tool, noting that UNICEF matches state investments in nutrition, effectively doubling available resources. “If a state commits N100 million, UNICEF matches it to make N200 million. This is an opportunity states should not overlook,” he said.
Earlier, Oyo State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, represented by Permanent Secretary Tunji Ayanleke, commended UNICEF for its continued support and emphasised the need for collaboration across sectors to sustain progress in all 33 local government areas of the state.
Stakeholders also underscored the role of governance and legislation in addressing malnutrition. Oyo State lawmaker Abiodun Babalola stressed the need for policies backed by adequate funding to drive meaningful outcomes.
Similarly, Ogun State stakeholder Folasade Adeyemo described the N774 initiative as a strategic intervention capable of reducing financial barriers that limit access to proper nutrition, particularly for low-income households.
Participants agreed that tackling malnutrition requires sustained investment, stronger institutional frameworks, and active grassroots participation. They warned that without urgent and deliberate action, stunting would continue to undermine children’s development and weaken the region’s human capital potential.
