The Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) has announced plans to establish a National Nutrition Intervention Fund to support the implementation of the Nutrition 774 Initiative across all local government areas in Nigeria. This decision was made during a three-day Nigeria-Ethiopia Nutrition Leadership Exchange in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where the Nigerian delegation, led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, studied Ethiopia's experience in nutrition delivery. The exchange aimed to provide practical lessons on how to strengthen Nigeria's nutrition programme and deliver measurable results.
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, who disclosed the plan, explained that the proposed fund would incentivize state-level leadership, encourage increased domestic investment, reward effective implementation, and support measurable improvements in nutrition outcomes. He noted that the governors of the 36 states had resolved to declare war on hunger by launching a nationwide nutrition emergency. The fund would be used to advance Nigeria's ambitious Nutrition 774 Initiative across every local government area in the country.
The Nutrition 774 Initiative already embodies many of the principles of Ethiopia's Seqota Declaration, which aims to accelerate the implementation of nutrition programmes. The exchange provided valuable lessons on how these principles can be further strengthened and translated into results. Governor Lawal recalled that the three tiers of government signed the Nutrition Compact on February 20, 2025, to establish a common commitment to tackling malnutrition.
The federal government has also begun making plans to implement targeted nutrition interventions in two states. According to Muyi Aina, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the Nigerian delegation learned important lessons from Ethiopia's agricultural transformation, early childhood development programmes, and data-driven initiatives. Aina identified clear vision and leadership, alignment across the three tiers of government, evidence-based prioritization, rigorous measurement, and disciplined execution as critical elements for achieving sustainable results.
Aina explained that the federal team would adopt a focused approach by selecting two states based on their stunting burden, defining clear objectives, and developing multisectoral interventions tailored to their needs. Relevant ministers and federal agencies would work with the governors and their teams to identify sectoral priorities and determine the responsibilities of each tier of government. The plan would be costed, with the participating governments working towards a joint financing arrangement and establishing measurable indicators to track progress.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, said the exchange had provided valuable lessons on translating political commitments into practical action and measurable nutrition outcomes. He identified focused sectoral action, a clear implementation roadmap, performance matrices, and accountability as critical to accelerating Nigeria's response to malnutrition. Pate expressed confidence that Nigeria could adapt Ethiopia's experience to its own circumstances, noting that the progress recorded by the East African country demonstrated the value of sustained political leadership and coordinated action.
Ethiopia's Minister of Health, Mekdes Daba, commended Nigeria for its commitment to strengthening nutrition delivery, describing the leadership exchange as a practical demonstration of African countries learning from one another. The Nutrition 774 Initiative represents a significant national commitment to tackling malnutrition in Nigeria. The combined efforts of federal and state governments, communities, and development partners will be essential to achieving sustainable results.
Key points
- Nigerian governors plan to establish a National Nutrition Intervention Fund to support the implementation of the Nutrition 774 Initiative.
- The fund aims to incentivize state-level leadership, encourage increased domestic investment, and support measurable improvements in nutrition outcomes.
- The federal government has begun making plans to implement targeted nutrition interventions in two states.
