To tackle the persistent challenges of malnutrition among women and girls in Nigeria, the Federal Government has unveiled a National Guideline aimed at promoting optimal nutrition and empowerment.
The launch event, spearheaded by the Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister (Mrs) Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, took place in Abuja, addressing issues of stunting, wasting, and anemia.
The newly unveiled guideline seeks to bridge existing gaps in multi-sectoral approaches to nutrition by providing strategies for improving the health and well-being of women and girls across the nation. With Nigeria currently ranking third globally in child wasting, and a high prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age, the imperative for action is clear.
Barrister Kennedy-Ohanenye stated the importance of optimal nutrition not only as a health imperative but also as a basic human right. Citing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, she stated the significant economic repercussions of malnutrition, including cognitive impairments and reduced productivity, which translate into substantial GDP losses annually.
Key to the government’s approach is a focus on sustainable empowerment programs geared towards equipping women and girls with the skills and resources they need to thrive.
Through initiatives such as skill acquisition, entrepreneurship training, and agricultural support, the Ministry aims to empower women as key drivers in the fight against malnutrition.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda, underscored the critical importance of integrating women and girls’ concerns into existing policies.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to building a just society where women and vulnerable groups enjoy equal opportunities and rights, free from discrimination.
Stating the nutrition situation in Nigeria, Mrs. Chito Nelson, the Nutrition Focal Officer, emphasized the link between under-nutrition and early death, stressing the need for intentional empowerment of Nigerian women and girls to promote optimal nutrition and human capital development.
