By Omoyeni Ojeifo
To combat child malnutrition, Nigeria is positioning schools at the frontline of its national strategy through the Federal Government’s Nutrition 774 Initiative.
Speaking at the Ethiopia–Nigeria Leadership Exchange in Addis Ababa, Minister of Education Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa emphasized the role of schools in delivering school meals, health services, and nutrition education across the country’s 774 local government areas to support vulnerable children and communities.
“Schools must play a greater role in tackling child malnutrition. Through school feeding, school health and nutrition education, we can reach children where they learn and improve their wellbeing,” he said in a statement emailed to PerSecondNews on Thursday by Ikharo Attah, his Special Adviser, Media and Communications.
Alausa stressed the need for stronger collaboration among ministries and the three tiers of government, with education interventions incorporated into local government multisectoral plans for food and nutrition.
“Tackling malnutrition requires coordinated action across education, health, agriculture and other relevant sectors, with clear responsibilities, adequate financing and effective monitoring,” he noted.
The proposed education-sector contribution includes school feeding, school health, nutrition education and measures to improve access to quality education and school participation.
The Minister also wants nutrition-related studies integrated into the revised school curriculum to teach children about healthy eating, nutrition, wellbeing and healthy lifestyles.
“School feeding is not only about providing food. When linked with school participation, it can help remove some of the barriers that prevent children from attending and remaining in school,” he emphasized.
The National Policy on Food and Nutrition aims to increase school-feeding coverage from 33 per cent to 60 per cent of primary-school children by 2035.
Alausa also called for greater attention to early childhood care and development beyond the first 1,000 days, while urging stronger use of integrated data to identify children and communities requiring support.
“Education cannot be separated from the fight against malnutrition. Well-nourished children who have access to quality education have a stronger foundation for healthy growth, development and a productive future,” he stated.
The Education Minister also identified reliable and integrated government data as essential for identifying children and communities requiring support, improving planning and determining whether nutrition interventions are reaching their intended beneficiaries.
Alausa welcomed lessons from Ethiopia on coordinating nutrition interventions and mobilising domestic resources, while stressing that relevant approaches must be adapted to Nigeria’s circumstances.
According to him, the efforts align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on human capital development and better opportunities for children and young people.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to working with ministries, state governments, local authorities and development partners to strengthen education-related interventions under Nutrition 774.
He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring that education remains an integral part of Nigeria’s response to malnutrition and to supporting initiatives that enable every Nigerian child to learn, grow, remain healthy and fulfil their potential.
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