Malnutrition Hindering Growth and Development of 40% of Nigerian Children — VP Shettima

Malnutrition Crisis a Threat to National Development, Says Shettima at Nutrition Summit

Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), has described Nigeria’s malnutrition challenge as a national emergency requiring immediate and united action.

Speaking at the National Summit on Nutrition and Food Security in Abuja, Shettima warned that the crisis is robbing nearly 40% of Nigerian children under five of their ability to reach full physical and mental development.

“This is a wake-up call. Malnutrition continues to undermine the potential of our youngest citizens,” he said.

He emphasized that food insecurity goes beyond hunger, pointing to broader concerns around affordability, accessibility, and the cultural acceptability of nutritious food.

“It affects every sector — from health and education to economic productivity. At its core, it challenges the very foundation of the human capital Nigeria desperately needs,” Shettima added.

The Vice President revealed that the Federal Government has introduced the Nutrition 774 Initiative, a community-based program designed to combat malnutrition in Nigeria’s most underserved areas.

Shettima: Nutrition 774 Initiative to Drive Grassroots Reform, End Rhetoric in Fight Against Malnutrition

Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to tackling malnutrition through the newly launched Nutrition 774 Initiative, which has been endorsed by the National Council on Nutrition, chaired by Shettima himself.

He noted that under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, nutrition has been repositioned as a central pillar of Nigeria’s national development strategy.

“At the core of this strategy is the Nutrition 774 Initiative — not a symbolic plan, but a hands-on, results-driven program aimed at reaching the nation’s most overlooked communities,” Shettima stated.

To ensure strong oversight and delivery, the Vice President announced the inauguration of the Nutrition 774 Strategic Board, a high-level governance team composed of lawmakers, civil society representatives, and government technocrats.

“This is how we build accountability into the system. This marks the end of lofty promises and the beginning of tangible outcomes,” he said.

Shettima also acknowledged the support of key development partners such as the World Bank, UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières, and Nutrition International, who have played a vital role in strengthening community-level nutrition efforts.

However, he stressed the need for greater coordination among stakeholders, warning against disjointed programming.

“The time for fragmented efforts is over. We cannot afford scattered systems that weaken our impact. Nigeria must move forward with one plan, one voice, and shared responsibility. Anything less fails the children relying on us.”

He went on to praise the National Assembly and state legislatures for their creation of the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security, which has now been replicated across all 36 states—a move Shettima described as a landmark in legislative involvement.

“Funding for nutrition must be predictable, protected, and purposeful,” he added. “Oversight must go beyond paperwork—it must assess real-world impact. Our policies must not stay locked in chambers; they must thrive in communities.”