FG calls for private partnership to tackle malnutrition

The Federal Government has called on the private sector to join in the efforts in tackling malnutrition and hunger in the country.

This was made know to journalists by Maryam Uwais, special adviser to the President on social investment during the just concluded Feed Nigeria Summit held in Lagos.

“Close partnerships with the private sector have the potential to reduce the current costs of treating severely malnourished children,” said Uwais who was representing Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

“We encourage the private sector to seize the available opportunity and invest in agriculture, invest in feeding the future and invest in the Nigeria we all seek” she said.

Uwais said that the private sector can assist by producing and marketing affordable fortified products such as the Ready to Use therapeutic Food (RUTF) which is designed to treat children that are suffering from severe acute malnutrition in the country.

According to her, the cost of treating single child costs N31, 840, with RUTF accounting for 60 percent of the total cost.   

In his keynote address, Godfrey Nzamujo, director, Songhai Centre, said that Nigeria can only feed itself when it start developing and deploying authentic technological generating agric and agro ecological services.

“The problem of food insecurity in the country, poverty and unemployment is all about our incapacity to unleash the human forces to address them with new technology.

“The solution of boosting agro productivity is to invest new ways that are sustainable using modern technology and innovations in the sector. Until we start doing that, we are not ready to feed ourselves as a nation,” he said.

Also speaking, Akinwumi Adesina, president, African Development Bank (AfDB) said he applaud the country’s efforts in using the school feeding home grown programme to reduce malnutrition.

According to the AfDB president, the board of the bank is considering giving out $1.1 billion to support Nigeria and some other African country to address the current drought and also support medium and long term measures to building resilient.

“The private sector certainly has a large part to play in the school home grown feeding programme. The private sector can support in boosting productivity through the partnership with the states on the programme,” said Adeyinka Onabolu, senior special adviser on nutrition, FMARD.

JOSEPHINE OKOJIE