VP Shettima Unveils Community-Driven Strategy to Tackle Nigeria’s Nutrition Challenges

Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to addressing its growing nutrition challenges through a community-driven strategy.

According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Mr. Stanley Nkwocha, on Tuesday, he noted that the N-774 initiative aims to transform nutrition outcomes across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.

During a meeting with a high-level delegation from the World Bank Group at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, VP Shettima presented the comprehensive N-774 Initiative.

“The Renewed Hope Administration is committed to swift, impactful results through this innovative approach to nutrition intervention.

“With sustained collaboration between the federal and subnational governments and international partners, we are confident this initiative will yield significant improvements in our community health outcomes,” the Vice President said.

The World Bank lauded the initiative’s strategic framework as a potential model for tackling malnutrition in Nigeria and the region.

The N-774 Initiative builds on successful outcomes from the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria project.

Shettima acknowledged the World Bank’s support for numerous nutrition programs across Nigeria.

He emphasized that the N-774 initiative represents a paradigm shift in nutrition programs through locally owned solutions.

“Malnutrition is a Nigerian problem that needs a Nigerian solution,” he said.

The initiative is a localized, community-driven solution tailored to each local government area’s unique needs.

It aims to bring nutrition interventions directly to communities, encouraging local ownership and ensuring sustainability.

The Vice President explained that the project integrates nutrition goals across education, agriculture, health, and social protection sectors.

The Renewed Hope Administration is committed to swift, impactful results through this innovative approach.

The World Bank delegation, including Country Director Ndiame Diop, expressed strong commitment to the initiative’s bottom-up approach.

Diop thanked Shettima for his leadership in coordinating multi-stakeholder collaboration on nutrition issues.

The World Bank has earmarked $50 million under the ANRiN 2.0 program, a crisis response window.

Practice Manager Trina Haque emphasized the need for nutrition education for children and adolescents, citing its importance for early child development.

The N-774 initiative’s success relies on sustained collaboration between federal and subnational governments, as well as international partners.

Nigeria stands to achieve significant improvements in community health outcomes with this commitment.