The Delta State Government has taken a fresh step toward tackling child malnutrition by rolling out the Federal Government’s N-774 Initiative across rural communities. The programme is designed to bring nutrition support closer to the grassroots and improve the wellbeing of children across the state.
The State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr Sonny Ekedayen, made this known during a one-day high-level meeting on integrated, multi-sectoral nutrition programmes held in Asaba. The gathering focused on strengthening collaboration and ensuring effective implementation of the initiative at the local level. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the N-774 Initiative, launched in February 2025, aims to extend nutrition interventions to all 774 Local Government Areas in the country. It adopts a bottom-up approach, targeting children directly within their communities, with a goal of cutting child malnutrition by 50 per cent by 2030.
The meeting, themed “Operationalising the N-774 Initiative and Establishment of Local Government Committees on Food and Nutrition (LGFNs),” brought together key stakeholders to align strategies and drive action.Speaking at the event through the state’s UNICEF Focal Person, Dr Jomo Ikpen, Ekedayen stressed the urgency of addressing malnutrition and improving nutrition outcomes across the state.
“This is serious business, considering the importance of nutrition to human capital development and other socio-economic indices.“We are doing quite well in nutritional activities, having benefited from UNICEF’s Child Nutrition Fund, for which the sum of N100 million was committed.“This meeting is not for praise-singing, but a time to learn from each other,” he said.
He, however, warned that malnutrition remains a major concern in Nigeria, including in the South-South region, especially in rural communities. He assured participants that the state government would prioritise the outcomes of the meeting and continue to strengthen its partnership with development agencies like UNICEF.In her remarks, the Acting Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Martina Amromanoh, described the meeting as timely and necessary, noting that collaboration would be key to achieving lasting results. “I am confident this collaboration will continue beyond this meeting,” she said.
Also speaking, UNICEF Programme Director Muhammad Okorie highlighted data from the NDHS 2023/2024, which shows persistently high malnutrition levels in the South-South region. According to him, some states have recorded rates as high as 27.6 per cent, significantly above the 10 per cent average stunting rate.“The focus on operationalising the N-774 Initiative and establishing functional Local Government Committees on Food and Nutrition cannot be overstated.
“Ultimately, the success of the N-774 Initiative will depend on strong political leadership and ownership across sectors,” he said.Okorie identified critical sectors that must work together to achieve success, including health, education, agriculture, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), social protection, finance and planning. He urged participants to move beyond discussions and commit to concrete actions. “We stand ready to continue this journey with you as a trusted partner,” he said.
He further emphasised the shared goal of ensuring that every child not only survives but thrives and reaches full potential. He also encouraged states yet to benefit from the Child Nutrition Fund to take advantage of the opportunity.The meeting featured presentations on regional nutrition data, UNICEF Nigeria’s priorities for 2026–2027, and practical strategies for implementing nutrition programmes, including access to child nutrition matching funds.
