From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
Jessica Bartholomew, a nutrition and social policy expert with over a decade of development experience, has been elected as the new chair of the National Steering Committee of the Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), pledging inclusive leadership and results-driven advocacy to fight malnutrition across the country.
In her acceptance speech at the 10th annual general meeting of the alliance, Bartholomew expressed deep gratitude for the trust placed in her, emphasizing that the role is more than leadership; it’s about serving to improve Nigeria’s nutrition outcomes, especially for the most vulnerable populations.
She thanked every member of the alliance for their dedication, votes, and belief in the shared vision. She praised the outgoing leadership for their commitment, resilience, and the strong foundation they built. “Your contributions have strengthened this alliance and positioned us for even greater impact,” she said.
Bartholomew noted that Nigeria’s nutrition challenges are complex and interconnected but not impossible to overcome. “With unity, strategic action, and sustained commitment, we can drive meaningful change,” she stated.
Her focus will be on strengthening systems, deepening partnerships, and ensuring advocacy efforts produce tangible results. She highlighted priorities such as capacity-building across state chapters, improved resource mobilization, and the promotion of evidence-based research and policy engagement.
“I am committed to inclusive leadership. Every member matters, every voice counts, and every contribution is valuable,” Bartholomew said. She pledged to keep CS-SUNN’s structures participatory, transparent, and accountable so that all members feel ownership of the progress.
She emphasized that collaboration remains key to the alliance’s success and called for ongoing engagement with government, development partners, the private sector, and communities to develop sustainable solutions. “Alone, we can do little, but together, we can achieve far more,” she added.
Bartholomew, who also serves as national secretary of the Social Protection Advocacy Network (NSPAN) and chairperson of the Kaduna Social Protection Accountability Coalition (KADSPAC), brings extensive experience in policy consulting, strategic planning, and grassroots mobilization across sectors, including nutrition, social protection, financial inclusion, and organizational development.
As the immediate past state coordinator of the CS-SUNN Kaduna State chapter, she achieved key successes, including establishing the Committee on Food and Nutrition Security at the Kaduna State House of Assembly, providing a legislative platform for nutrition governance and accountability.
Under her leadership, crèche facilities were set up in five ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to support working mothers and improve child nutrition outcomes.
She also led advocacy efforts that resulted in dedicated budget lines for nutrition across major MDAs, greatly increasing resource allocation and visibility for nutrition interventions.
Other achievements include creating nutrition directorates within MDAs such as the State Primary Health Care Board, the Ministry of Health, the Planning and Budgeting Commission, the Ministry of Women Affairs, and the Ministry of Agriculture, to ensure the institutionalization and coordination of nutrition actions.
At the local level, introducing nutrition budget lines at the local government area level marked a vital step toward decentralized, community-focused nutrition financing.
Bartholomew also highlighted the Kaduna State governor’s commitment to the Child Nutrition Fund, describing it as a sign of high-level political will that positions the state as a leader in nutrition investment.
As she officially closed the 10th AGM, she thanked organizers, participants, and partners for a successful meeting.
“The insights shared, the commitments made, and the collaborations strengthened during this AGM will undoubtedly guide our work in the coming year,” she said.
She urged all members to renew their dedication and bring fresh energy to the work ahead.
“The journey requires dedication, innovation, and resilience — but I am confident that, together, we are up to the task,” Bartholomew concluded.
