Muhammad Alabira Nabordo
Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, has inaugurated the Jigawa State Council on Nutrition 774, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to tackling malnutrition and promoting food security across the state.
The inauguration ceremony followed a courtesy visit from Mrs. Uju Rochas-Anwuka, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, who was in the State recently to launch the Nutrition 774 Initiative.
In her remarks, Mrs. Rochas-Anwuko emphasized that malnutrition is not just a health issue but a national economic concern, affecting the entire system’s focus on development rather than survival needs.
While speaking, Governor Umar Namadi expressed appreciation for the initiative and highlighted Jigawa’s leading role in nutrition advocacy and implementation.
He stressed the importance of community engagement and grassroots participation in effective nutrition interventions, citing the Masaki Programme as a successful example.
“The Masaki Programme, established in 2020, has reached almost 1.3 million people through various activities.
“The state government has also implemented other initiatives, including the Tom Brown Supplement Programme, which has trained and supported 600 women to produce and package nutritional supplements for local distribution.
” Additionally, ₦250 million is set aside annually for the procurement of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) in collaboration with UNICEF,” Namadi said.
He stressed that the newly inaugurated Jigawa State Council on Nutrition 774 will coordinate and strengthen all nutrition-related efforts across ministries and sectors.
Governor Namadi assured that Jigawa will be the first state to achieve the goals of the Nutrition 774 project, with plans to include sectoral allocations for nutrition in every relevant Ministry, Department, and Agency (MDA).
He therefore, said the council will be chaired by the Governor, with commissioners and permanent secretaries serving as members.
