More businesses join fight against malnutrition in Nigeria

Nigerian businesses have joined the fight against malnutrition through Nigeria’s Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Business Network. Over a third of Nigeria’s children under-5 are malnourished, while micronutrient and vitamin deficiencies result in losses of over US$1.5 billion in GDP each year in Nigeria, according to a statement.

Sani Dangote, Chairman of Dansa Foods and the Nigeria AgriBusiness Group, joined the network and encouraged all stakeholders to see the business case for investing in nutrition. According to the statement, he also called on Nigerian business to come up with their own solutions.

Leaders from Government, Civil Society and Donors joined the network as it welcomed 19 companies which have made commitments to join the network and support the Government plans to reduce malnutrition. Key actors that have joined the coalition include Dansa Foods, Coca-Cola, Unilever, Nutricima, BASF and several  other organizations, all of which formed the 19 ‘early risers’ committed to investing more resources towards improving nutrition.

“Business has a key role to play in combating malnutrition through their products and services – and also have an interest in ensuring consumers demand better nutritious products,while growing Nigeria’s economy”.

Research from IPSOS Healthcare revealed that consumer awareness of the benefits of good nutrition was low and that many Nigerian households lacked diversity in their diets thereby highlighting the need for such research to guide new product formulation and marketing. G.O. Opara representing the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;  Ngozi Nnam – President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria and chairman CS-SUNN;  Chris Isokpunwu and Zouera Youssoufou – SUN Focal point (FMOH) and MD/CEO Dangote Foundation respectively, were some of the panelists and contributors at the event.