By Lawrence Olaoye
The federal government may consider the inauguration of National Council of Nutrition to checkmate the rising spate of malnutrition in the country.
This was made known by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, when Nigerian Human Nutritionists led by the Deputy Governor of Kano state, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, paid him a visit yesterday.
According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo also said the government Homegrown School Feeding Program was also meant to address malnutrition especially in primary schools.
Abubakar, who came with leaders of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, had detailed the concerns of Nigerian professional human nutritionists on malnutrition challenges, and how Nigeria is faring regarding the global nutrition targets. The delegation urged the Federal Government to inaugurate a National Council on Nutrition to address the situation.
In his response, Vice President Osinbajo noted that the problems of malnutrition are part of the reasons “why we have the Homegrown School Feeding Programme to deal with the issues of human nutrition.”
He added that the Federal Government would be ready to collaborate with States where nutrition issues are most urgent in prioritising the implementation of the school feeding programme. Already, 14 States are benefiting across the country, with almost 3 million pupils being fed daily.
The Vice President stated that the government would consider inaugurating the National Council on Nutrition, urging the experts to come up with an action plan to effectively address the malnutrition challenges in the country.
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