Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State has inaugurated the Yobe Council on Nutrition 774 Initiative, a programme designed to improve nutrition outcomes across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
The initiative seeks to enhance food security, health, and nutrition through community engagement, multi-level governance, and multi-sectoral collaboration.
Speaking at the launch in Damaturu on Wednesday, Buni emphasised the importance of strong coordination, multi-sectoral partnerships, and community participation in achieving the programme’s goals.
“The council will serve as the state’s coordinating body for nutrition programming, providing strategic leadership, oversight, and advocacy to ensure that the goals of the Nutrition 774 Initiative are effectively achieved in Yobe,” he said.
He added that through partnerships with UNICEF, UNFPA, the World Food Programme, World Bank, UNDP, and other agencies, Yobe has expanded community-based nutrition services, strengthened maternal and child health systems, and improved access to life-saving interventions for vulnerable groups.
“We are also investing in data systems and local capacity to enhance planning, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making in nutrition programming,” Buni said.
The governor noted that the initiative provides an opportunity to align federal support with the state’s efforts to deliver impactful services at the grassroots.
“Yobe government will continue to align our State Nutrition Action Plan with the national framework, ensuring that every local government has the tools and support required to implement community-led nutrition initiatives. The fight against malnutrition is not the responsibility of government alone; it requires collaboration with traditional and religious leaders, civil society, the private sector, and local communities,” he said.
In her remarks, Mrs. Uju Rochas-Anwukah, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, commended Buni for his investment in health and agriculture sectors.
She described the Nutrition 774 Initiative as a federal-led, community-driven, and results-focused programme anchored on three principles:
- Political will at subnational level – leadership drives progress.
- Multi-sectoral collaboration – agriculture, education, water and sanitation, and social protection must work together.
- Accountability and financing – resources are essential to achieving results.
Rochas-Anwukah promised to support the state with policy tools, technical expertise, and partnerships to enhance its nutritional outcomes.
“We want Yobe to own this initiative, champion it, and make it a legacy for your administration. When a governor chooses nutrition, he is not just feeding children — he is building the workforce, innovators, and leaders who will define the future of Yobe,” she said.
