Experts have said that micronutrients are essential for proper body functioning as they play vital roles in maintaining good health, supporting growth and development, and preventing various diseases.
Although, Nigeria may be a nation of many rich foods with great potentials in terms of possessing many arable lands that support food production, the lack of essential micronutrients has become a growing concern that deserves attention. It was based on this that nutrition experts and stakeholders converged in Abuja with the aim of addressing widespread micronutrient deficiencies across the country. Ochiaka Ugwu was there for Peoples Daily and writes
There is no doubt that poor dietary choices horn micronutrient deficiency amongst the Nigerian population. Most people favour diet that is heavy on carbohydrates and lacking in fruits, vegetables, and protein-rich foods which contribute to micronutrient deficiency.
Again, there is limited food diversity in the society as many Nigerians prefer staple foods, ignoring the importance of a varied diet that provides a wider range of nutrients.
Based on these realities, nutrition experts and stakeholders including government officials, development partners, civil society and the private sector gathered in Abuja for a Two-Day-2025 Micronutrient Conference held from 18 to 19 of December, 2025 themed: “Strengthening Resilient Systems for Addressing Micronutrient Deficiencies in Nigeria” to review data, align strategies and strengthen systems across health, food, education, social protection, water and sanitation.
Speaking at the event, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate noted the urgent need for the nation to move from fragmented nutrition programmes to coordinated, evidence-based actions to address widespread micronutrient deficiencies across the country.
Pate said the aim of the gathering was to translate available evidence from national surveys into concrete actions that improve nutrition outcomes and break the cycle of malnutrition and poverty.
Speaking on government’s accomplishments and future plans, Minister Pate stated that Federal Government has distributed millions of micronutrient supplements to pregnant women, expanded nutrition services to more states, strengthened health worker capacity, and advanced food fortification initiatives in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture.
He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritizing nutrition, and commended development partners such as UNICEF, the Gates Foundation, civil society groups, private sector and other stakeholders for their continued support and encouragement.
He also called for increased funding and stronger collaboration at all levels of government to sustain gains made over time.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari noted that the micronutrient deficiency otherwise known as hidden hunger was the most overlooked challenge in food chain and affects millions of Nigerians especially women, infants and children.
He said the real issue was not only quantity of food, but quality and nutritional value the food provides.
Kyari informed that micronutrient deficiency was not only health issue, but an agricultural, productive, economic and national development priorities.
Minister Kyari revealed the nation faces the task of ensuring that every household has access not only to adequate food, but also to nutrient rich food that strengthens immunity, supports child development and improve cognitive performance.
He informed that the success of national agricultural transformation depends on health and resilience of the people and urged stakeholders to come together and collaborate to achieve the desired objective.
Minister of Women Affairs, Iman Suleman Ibrahim who was represented by Christiana Oliko said the theme of the conference could not be timelier and more strategic considering the collective resolve to end malnutrition, noting that micronutrient deficiency remains one of the silent, but devastating drivers of ill-health, poor learning outcomes, low productivity, maternal and child mortality.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziak Adekunle Salako said the gathering underscored the magnitude of micronutrient deficiency in the country and reflects the shared commitment to tackling it as one of the most pressing public health and developmental challenges confronting the nation.
He said the conversation should be seen not just as a talk shop but as a national platform for dialogue, reflection, and coordinated action to address the severe public health issue which affects millions of Nigerians especially children and pregnant women.
While commending the outgoing Director of Nutrition of the Ministry, Mrs. Ladidi K. Bako-Aiyegbusi mni and her team for reawakening the national conference in accordance with a key resolution of the Multiple Micronutrient Supplement Taskforce, he urged the initiative to re-inaugurate the National Advisory Committee of the Micronutrient Deficiency and Control, that will signal a renewed national commitment to tackling malnutrition.
Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr. Salma Ibrahim Anas said 2021 to 2023 NDHS survey showed that 40% of Nigerian children are stunted, while over 90% of women suffer from critical micronutrient deficiencies, observing that the data was clear and deeply concerning. She said that micronutrient deficiency undermines human development, productivity, and collective future and needs urgent coordinated action.
Anas said that guided by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, their response was anchored on three pillars: Human Capital Development, Social Safety Nets, and Industrialization.
She stressed the need for intensified interventions in conflict-affected regions and IDP camps, where malnutrition, insecurity, poor sanitation, and disease intersect most severely.
She assured of President Tinubu’s commitment to translating deliberations into delivery, saying the goal was an actionable roadmap that ensures every Nigerian regardless of location or circumstance has the nutritional foundation required to thrive.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health and Focal Person for Nutrition, Office of the Vice President, Mrs. Uju Rochas-Anwukah who noted that Nigeria’s nutrition challenge was a triple burden of malnutrition which were undernutrition, micronutrient deficiency, rising overweight and obesity called for strong political will, multisectoral coordination and country-led solutions, remarking that the Vice President has prioritized nutrition across policy, financing and governance frameworks.
She said the administration had placed strong emphasis on subnational leadership to deepen impact at the grassroots.
Mrs. Rochas-Anwukah informed that nutrition was not only a health issue but a critical development imperative requiring a unified national response, stating that data would not solve the problem, but strengthening systems.
While appreciating the contribution of development partners and private sector, she urged them to work with government and not ahead it saying that Nigeria’s solutions must be country led, scalable and embedded within the institutions.
She concluded by reminding participants that no nation industrializes on undernourished and malnourished population, and cannot build human capital on hidden hunger nor speak of resilience if the system fails the most vulnerable.
She said the conference should move from dialogue to delivery and from fragmented efforts to unified national response.
In her welcome remarks, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom S. mni, said government was proud to host the gathering of policymakers, researchers, development partners, practitioners, academia, the private sector, civil society, and the media, that was united by a shared commitment to advancing nutrition security and strengthening the health systems.
She said that micronutrient deficiencies, often referred as hidden hunger was one of the most persistent yet preventable public health challenges facing the nation. Daju noted that deficiencies in essential micronutrients such as iron, vitamin A, zinc, folate, vitamin B12, and others continue to undermine health, growth, learning capacity, and productivity, particularly among women of reproductive age and children under five.
She said that behind every statistic was a mother, a child, a classroom, and a future that must not be left to chance.
Statistician General and CEO National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Yemi Adeniran represented by an NBS official said the conference was a significant platform for discussing and addressing the pressing issue of micronutrient deficiencies in Nigeria.
Adeniran said the Micronutrient deficiencies have been a major public health concern in Nigeria, with far-reaching consequences on the country’s economic development, healthcare systems, and overall well-being of its citizens. He emphasized the importance of collaboration, innovation, and collective action in addressing the challenge.
He said it was only through strengthened and resilient systems that we can effectively identify, prevent, and treat micronutrient deficiencies, ultimately improving the lives of millions of Nigerians.
House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Nutrition and Food Security, Hon Chike Okafor told conferees that the opportunity presented by the conference was not for chest beating, given the fact that the harmful consequences of micronutrient deficiencies among children and pregnant women were with us.
He said current data from NDHS Report was enough signal that much progress had not been made and the need to do more.
Rep Okafor stated that adequate intake of micronutrient like Iron, Folic acid, Vitamin A, Zinc and Iodin were crucial for prevention of birth defects and development of the unborn child, reducing of maternal and child mortality, boosting of immune systems and supporting cognitive development of the child.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Nigeria, Dr. Pavel Ursu represented by Dr. Pinder while pledging the body’s unwavering support to the conference said the gathering was more than an event, but a call to action, reaffirmation to shared commitment in improving nutrition and health outcomes for every Nigerian.
He said the theme of the conference could not have been timelier as micronutrient deficiency remains a silent crisis, stating that addressing these deficiencies was not only a health imperative, but a development priority that underpins progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The event featured key presentations by notable nutrition experts and resource persons with panel discussions hammering on how best to upscale nutrition in the nation. The conversation centered on reviewing the current status of micronutrient deficiencies and interventions, sharing of evidence-based innovations and best practices in micronutrient programming.
It also dwelled on facilitating policy dialogue for strengthening systems for sustainable delivery of micronutrients across the life course, exploring financing mechanisms, including public, donor, and private sector engagement.
Mechanisms for strengthening partnerships across sectors to accelerate progress toward national and global nutrition targets were also discussed.
The highpoint of the event was the inauguration of Members of the National Advisory Committee for Micronutrient Deficiency Control in Nigeria by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate. The committee chaired by the outgoing Director of Nutrition, Ministry of Health, Mrs. Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi mni is a multi-stakeholder body tasked with guiding implementation, monitoring progress, advising government on priority actions and engaging constructively on how best to upscale nutrition.
Pate also unveiled other nutrition policy documents, including the Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) landscape analysis and roadmap, the Nutrition Emergency Strategy, and knowledge management and advocacy frameworks aimed at strengthening nutrition delivery nationwide.
While delivering the vote of thanks, Mrs. Ladidi K. Bako-Aiyegbusi mni who expressed appreciation to Health Minister and other stakeholders for their commitment in upscaling nutrition, said the strong leadership demonstrated by the launch of the key policy document and inauguration of Advisory Committee on Micronutrient Deficiency reaffirms the Federal Government’s commitment in addressing micronutrient deficiency through evidence driven and system strengthening approaches.
However, Micronutrient deficiency may be an invisible challenge which affects national development, but its impact is very visible as unearthed at the conference through its recommendations and communique released after extensive deliberations.
There is this consensus by participants that in order to build a healthier and more prosperous nation, it’s vital that the issue of micronutrient be addressed through raising awareness, promoting a diverse and balanced diet, and advocating for policies that ensure access to nutritious food for Nigerians.
More importantly, more proactive actions need to be taken toward combating micronutrient deficiency and improving the well-being of the peoples.
