By Muhammad Maitela, Damaturu
Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, has officially inaugurated the State Council on Nutrition 774, reaffirming the state’s full commitment to the Federal Government’s national nutrition drive.
The inauguration followed an advocacy visit by Mrs. Uju Rochas-Anwukah, the Senior Special Assistant to the President of Public Health.
Governor Buni used the occasion to commend President Bola Ahmad Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for their leadership through the Nutrition 774 Initiative.
“The Nutrition 774 Initiative reflects a bold and transformative vision,” Governor Buni stated.
“We are fully aligned with its objectives as a driving force for improving public health and achieving sustainable growth.”
Governor Buni announced that the newly constituted State Council on Nutrition will serve as the central coordinating body for all nutrition programming in Yobe State.
“This Council will provide strategic leadership, oversight, and advocacy to ensure that the goals of the Nutrition 774 Initiative are effectively achieved,” he said.
The council’s membership has been carefully selected to ensure the program’s effective implementation.
The Governor highlighted that Yobe State is already laying the groundwork for this collaboration.
He shared that the state administration has launched a massive agricultural empowerment programme to boost food security and nutrition.
“This encouraged mass involvement of our people in agricultural production, paving the way for a smooth collaboration and integration into the Nutrition 774 programme,” he explained.
Furthermore, the state has integrated nutrition-sensitive interventions into its health, education, and social protection programmes, as well as the skill acquisition programmes of the Ministry of Women Affairs.
Governor Buni detailed the state’s existing partnerships with development agencies, including UNICEF, UNFPA, the World Food Programme, the World Bank, and UNDP, which have helped expand community-based nutrition services and strengthen health systems.
He emphasized that the fight against malnutrition requires a holistic approach. “It should not be a government effort alone,” he urged.
“It requires a holistic approach involving our traditional and religious leaders, civil society organizations, the private sector, and local communities.”
