In a bid to tackle rising malnutrition concerns in Nigeria, TechnoServe, through its Millers for Nutrition initiative, has collaborated with the Promoting Rice Fortification in Nigeria (PRiFN) programme to train rice millers in Lagos on fortifying rice with essential micronutrients. The training, which took place over two days, equipped participants with the knowledge to enrich rice with iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12, in line with accreditation requirements set by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The initiative aims to use rice as a vehicle for delivering micronutrients such as iron, zinc, folic acid, and B vitamins to combat widespread deficiencies. According to Olusola Sowunmi, Senior Food Fortification Specialist at TechnoServe, the programme promotes voluntary fortification and positions it as a public health intervention rather than purely a commercial activity. Approved in 2021, the programme has made significant progress, with about seven rice mills currently producing fortified rice, and more expected to join.
Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, stressed the importance of collaboration between regulators and millers to address rising malnutrition, particularly among children. Adeyeye, who was represented by Eva Edwards, Director of the Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Directorate, underscored the role of fortification in improving nutritional outcomes. Rice fortification remains relatively new in Nigeria, although fortification of salt, flour, and edible oil has long been established.
Abiola Tijani, a control regulatory officer at NAFDAC, reiterated the agency's mandate to regulate the manufacture, importation, distribution, and sale of food products, noting that rice fortification falls within its public health responsibilities. Tijani described rice as a strategic vehicle for nutrient delivery due to its widespread consumption, reaching over 90 per cent of Nigerians. The agency is positioning fortified rice as a key intervention in addressing micronutrient deficiencies, particularly iron and vitamin A deficiencies identified in national assessments.
To ensure compliance, NAFDAC has outlined two key regulatory frameworks guiding fortified food production: the Pre-Packaged Food Labelling Regulation, which ensures clear and accurate product information, and the Food Fortification Regulation, which specifies nutrient thresholds for products to qualify as fortified. Manufacturers must comply with defined nutrient reference values, and products that do not meet these thresholds cannot legally be marketed as fortified.
The Standard Organisation of Nigeria's Nene Obianwu explained that standards are developed through stakeholder collaboration and are essential for ensuring quality and uniformity across the value chain. She noted that both milled rice and the final fortified product must meet required standards before certification can be granted. If a product does not meet the required nutrient levels, it must not be labelled as fortified.
The training brought together millers already producing fortified rice with TechnoServe support, as well as those in the process of obtaining licences. With progress being made in scaling production, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and expanding participation across the rice value chain, sustaining momentum will require aligning public health priorities with market incentives to ensure widespread production and consumption of fortified rice.
Key points
- TechnoServe trains rice millers to fortify rice with essential micronutrients to combat malnutrition in Nigeria.
- The programme promotes voluntary fortification as a public health intervention, with about seven rice mills currently producing fortified rice.
- Regulatory frameworks have been outlined to ensure compliance, including the Pre-Packaged Food Labelling Regulation and the Food Fortification Regulation.
