Vice President Kashim Shettima has emphasized that investing in nutrition offers one of the highest returns on investment for any development intervention, with each dollar yielding an estimated return of $23.
Shettima made the remark on Thursday in Abuja at the Mobilising Against Malnutrition in Northwest Nigeria conference, organised by the Katsina State Government, Northwest Governors Forum, and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
He was represented by Mrs. Uju Rochas-Anwukah, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health and Focal Person on Nutrition in the Office of the Vice President.
According to Shettima, investing in nutrition is equivalent to investing in human capital — the next generation of leaders who will drive Nigeria’s growth and development.
He lamented that thousands of children and pregnant women die annually from malnutrition-related causes, while millions more are left physically and mentally impaired.
“Beyond the human tragedy lies the economic one. An estimated $56 billion is lost in human capital annually, equivalent to 12.2 per cent of our national income. These figures represent lost potential and a cycle of poverty that undermines development. But our task today is not to despair; it is to act decisively,” he said.
Shettima stressed that solutions to malnutrition are evidence-based, cost-effective, and proven to save lives when properly implemented.
“Treating malnourished children saves lives, while prevention helps them grow, learn, and thrive. No child can learn on an empty stomach. Nutrition must be viewed as an investment, not a cost,” he added.
Gov. Dikko Radda of Katsina State reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to tackling the root causes of malnutrition, noting that northwest governors are implementing reforms across multiple sectors.
“Katsina has contributed N1 billion to the Child Nutrition Fund, with UNICEF providing matching funds of N200 million, N300 million, and N500 million in 2023, 2024, and 2025, respectively,” Radda said.
He also highlighted the state government’s efforts to scale up and modernize Outpatient Therapeutic Programmes (OTPs), stabilisation centres, and local production of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF).
“This will ensure a consistent supply, stimulate the local economy, and create jobs for our youth. We are also considering six months of maternity leave to improve infant care,” he added.
Radda urged participants to make actionable commitments to tackle hunger and malnutrition as a top sustainable development priority for Nigeria.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, described malnutrition as one of Nigeria’s most pressing challenges, especially in the northwest, where many families struggle to access adequate food.
Represented by the ministry’s Director of Nutrition, Mrs. Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, Pate cited the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), which reported persistently high rates of wasting and stunting across several states.
“While humanitarian interventions have reduced some impacts, the underlying causes — poverty, food insecurity, weak health systems, and low preventive services — will persist unless urgent action is taken,” he warned.
Pate noted that the Federal Government has scaled up preventive and treatment measures, establishing 115 additional malnutrition treatment sites nationwide between January and November 2025.
“Government alone cannot solve this challenge. Addressing malnutrition requires coordinated action from states, donors, and implementing partners. Everyone has a role to play,” he said.
MSF Country Representative, Dr. Ahmed Aldikhari, highlighted that Nigeria remains the country where the organisation treats the highest number of children with acute malnutrition globally.
“In 2024 alone, nearly 300,000 children with severe acute malnutrition were admitted into our outpatient units across northern Nigeria, accounting for over half of MSF’s global admissions,” he said.
He noted that the scale of malnutrition reflects both the severity of the crisis in Nigeria’s Sahelian belt and the country’s large population.
Aldikhari commended federal and state governments for ongoing efforts but called for stronger collaboration and additional partner support to meet the urgency of the situation.
“This conference is a platform to strengthen partnerships and renew commitments to the well-being of families and children across northwest Nigeria,” he said.
The event brought together government representatives, development partners, civil society groups, the private sector, and philanthropies to align strategies, mobilise resources, and translate commitments into concrete action.
