The Chief of UNICEF’s Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucrière, has called on families, employers and healthcare workers across Southwest Nigeria to strengthen support for breastfeeding mothers, describing breastmilk as a child’s first vaccine and one of the most effective investments in a healthy future.
In a message marking this year’s World Breastfeeding Week, Lafoucrière said breastfeeding provides newborns with vital protection against diseases, promotes healthy brain development and gives every child the best possible start in life at no financial cost.
While noting that most Nigerian mothers breastfeed their babies, she expressed concern that many do not follow recommended practices.
According to her, only one in three babies in Nigeria is breastfed within the first hour after birth, while just three in every 10 infants are exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life without water, infant formula or solid foods.
Lafoucrière said the figures highlight the need for greater awareness and stronger support systems, particularly in Southwest Nigeria, where busy urban lifestyles and work demands often make exclusive breastfeeding more challenging.
She stressed that successful breastfeeding is a shared responsibility and not one that should rest solely on mothers.
The UNICEF official urged employers to create breastfeeding-friendly workplaces by providing adequate time and private spaces for nursing mothers. She also called on healthcare professionals to ensure babies are put to the breast within the first hour of delivery and to provide accurate information on infant feeding, free from the influence of formula marketing.
She further appealed to husbands, grandparents, religious leaders and other family members to encourage and support breastfeeding mothers instead of discouraging or questioning their choices.
Addressing mothers directly, Lafoucrière acknowledged the sacrifices involved in caring for newborns and commended women who continue to breastfeed despite the challenges.
“To every mother in Lagos feeding her child right now, alone in the quiet hours of the night, we see you. You are giving your child their first and best gift,” she said.
She reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to working with governments and partners to promote optimal breastfeeding practices and improve child health outcomes across Nigeria.
