The Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) has called on the Borno State Government to prioritise nutrition in its 2027 budget and explore Zakat and Waqf as complementary funding sources for vulnerable populations.
Mr Yusuf Ibn-Tom, Borno State Coordinator of CS-SUNN, made the appeal in an interview with reporters on Friday in Maiduguri.
Ibn-Tom described nutrition financing as an investment in children, human capital development and the future of the state.
While acknowledging the importance of government funding, he stressed the need to mobilise additional resources to address the scale of nutrition challenges facing vulnerable communities.
According to him, Borno’s strong tradition of Zakat, Waqf and community philanthropy offers an opportunity to mobilise extra support for nutrition interventions.
He urged the government to include clear and measurable nutrition programmes in the 2027 budget, supported by specific budget lines and timely release of funds.
The coordinator also called for the designation of a relevant government institution to develop a Zakat and Waqf nutrition financing framework in consultation with religious leaders, ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), civil society organisations and development partners.
He further recommended identifying priority nutrition interventions and vulnerable groups that could benefit, including children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees and vulnerable households.
Ibn-Tom advocated a transparent mechanism for tracking, reporting and publicly communicating nutrition funding, including resources mobilised through Zakat and Waqf.
He emphasised that the proposed financing mechanisms should complement, rather than replace, government allocations for nutrition.
“As CS-SUNN Borno chapter, we are ready to support the Ministry in developing this approach and bringing relevant stakeholders together,” he said.
He appreciated the Ministry of Budget for providing an opportunity for stakeholders to contribute to the 2027 budget process at a recent town hall meeting.
Ibn-Tom urged the government to incorporate the proposed actions into the budget and assign responsible institutions to implement them.
He said sustained investment in nutrition would promote healthier children, stronger families and a more productive Borno.
