The Federal Government, in collaboration with development partners, has committed $30 million to combat child malnutrition through the Small Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS) initiative.
Country Director of Evidence Action, a non-profit organization, Mr. Tope Ogunbi, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during the National Training of Trainers (ToT) on SQ-LNS delivery.
He said the initiative, supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), will provide nutritional supplements to two million children aged six to 23 months across the country for six months.
According to him, the effort aims to prevent malnutrition among under-five children in high-burden states.
“The Federal Government has committed $15 million, while UNICEF matched the amount to procure about 600,000 cartons of the supplement,” Ogunbi said.
“This intervention is preventive, not curative. It is designed to help children in food-insecure areas maintain proper growth and development.”
Ogunbi added that through UNICEF’s Child Nutrition Fund, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare had procured more than 600,000 cartons of the product, with distribution to states expected to begin before the end of October.
Director of Nutrition Information System at the ministry, Mr. Emmanuel Abatta, described malnutrition, stunting, and wasting as major public health challenges in Nigeria.
“The programme targets children between six and 23 months. Health workers will be trained to guide mothers on how to administer the supplements effectively,” he said.
He explained that implementation will begin in 20 high-burden states, starting with national-level training before cascading to states and local government areas.
Similarly, Technical Adviser, Department of Nutrition, Dr. Lekan Olubajo, said the intervention is part of the broader Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) strategy.
“The SQ-LNS is a preventive measure integrated into complementary feeding. It ensures children don’t slide into malnutrition, especially in food-insecure areas,” he said.
According to him, the supplement supports healthy growth and helps maintain adequate nutritional status among young children.
The SQ-LNS product, locally known as Nutributter, is a fortified lipid-based paste designed to complement the diets of children aged six to 23 months with essential nutrients.
It contains 24 micronutrients—13 vitamins and 11 minerals—along with protein, fat, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and two essential fatty acids: linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid.
SQ-LNS is administered with complementary foods and is not a standalone meal. Research has shown it significantly reduces stunting, wasting, and underweight among young children.
Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with UNICEF, Evidence Action, and other partners, has developed a standardized SQ-LNS training manual for health workers nationwide to ensure uniform implementation.
The National ToT brought together representatives from 20 states, development partners, and health professionals to strengthen capacity for the effective rollout of the SQ-LNS programme across the country.
