The Adamawa State government has allocated N300 million as a matching grant to support the Child Nutrition Fund, aiming to combat malnutrition within the state.
During the launch of the State Council on Nutrition under the Nutrition 774 Initiative, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri highlighted that his administration has progressively increased funding for nutrition programs over the past six years.
Represented by his deputy, Professor Kaletapha Farauta, the governor emphasized that malnutrition remains a significant obstacle to educational attainment and workforce productivity in Adamawa.
“Malnutrition is an invisible crisis that stunts growth, hampers learning, and diminishes cognitive development,” he remarked.
“It poses a serious threat to our human capital and hinders overall progress,” the governor added.
Deputy Governor Farauta reiterated the government’s dedication to supporting vulnerable populations through innovative platforms designed to alleviate poverty and malnutrition across the state.
She also tasked local government chairpersons with the responsibility of championing and replicating the success of this initiative within their respective jurisdictions.
Earlier in the event, Uju Vanstasia, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, described malnutrition as Nigeria’s most overlooked yet devastating crisis, one that extinguishes more potential than armed conflict.
“Currently, one in every three Nigerian children under the age of five suffers from stunting. Nearly 50% of child mortality in our country is linked to malnutrition,” she revealed.
“This issue transcends health-it is a national emergency that remains largely invisible,” Vanstasia stressed.
“Malnutrition does not discriminate by religion, ethnicity, or geography. It is a manifestation of inequality and poverty, demanding urgent, strategic, and unified action,” she concluded.
In her dual role as the Nutrition Focal Person in the Office of the Vice President, Vanstasia called on all levels of government to prioritize investments in nutrition.
“Every dollar invested in nutrition yields a $23 return in economic benefits, nearly quadrupling the returns from infrastructure investments,” she explained.
