The National Economic Council (NEC) has officially launched the Nutrition 774 Initiative in a concerted effort to address the widespread issue of malnutrition and enhance human capital development across Nigeria. The initiative aims to deliver lifesaving nutrition interventions to all of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
The launch took place on Thursday during the 148th NEC meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, and was announced in a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications, Office of the Vice President.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, in his address at the event, urged state governors, ministers, local government chairmen, and key stakeholders including private sector partners to take immediate and decisive actions to combat malnutrition in the country. He emphasized that the problem of malnutrition goes beyond health, affecting productivity, education, and national economic growth.
Shettima highlighted the gravity of the situation, with nearly 40% of Nigerian children under five suffering from stunting, 8% from wasting, and 27% from being underweight. He pointed out that the consequences of malnutrition are far-reaching, particularly in terms of cognitive development, educational outcomes, and workforce productivity.
“The foundation we lay today will determine the strength of our nation tomorrow,” the Vice President stated, adding that “no investment yields greater returns than investing in the health and well-being of our people.”
Emphasizing President Bola Tinubu’s commitment, Shettima described the Nutrition 774 Initiative as a national priority. It seeks to improve coordination, financing, and accountability in the fight against malnutrition, and is set to be the first government-led intervention of its scale, adopting a multi-sectoral, community-driven approach to ensure critical nutrition support for every Nigerian mother and child, no matter their location.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, speaking on behalf of all 36 state governors, pledged their full support for the initiative. Local government chairmen and other stakeholders at the launch also committed to backing the initiative.
In addition to the launch of the Nutrition 774 Initiative, the NEC meeting also discussed the economic priorities for 2025, as presented by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun. The council commended the outlined economic strategies, noting that Nigeria is heading in the right direction and emphasizing the need to create an enabling environment for economic growth.
The Nutrition 774 Initiative reflects a bold, national effort to address one of the country’s most pressing health challenges and strengthen Nigeria’s human capital for future generations.
