Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has tasked stakeholders in the Nutrition 774 Initiative to think broadly and come up with enduring solutions to malnutrition challenges currently being faced by Nigerians.
Governor Otti was speaking in Umuahia on Wednesday, while declaring open a two-day workshop on Abia State Advocacy and Training on Nutrition 774 Initiative with the theme, “Strengthening Capacity to Drive Action for Nutrition Delivery”.
The Governor noted that the N774 initiative can only succeed by taking a holistic view of the problems the Nigerian State is facing on the economic and social fronts.
“The N-774 Initiative can only succeed by taking a holistic view of the problems we face on the economic and social fronts.
“There is a direct link between malnutrition and poverty, malnutrition and unemployment, malnutrition and insecurity, and, of course, malnutrition and social uncertainty.
“These realities invite us as stakeholders to think broadly and come up with enduring solutions to the ticking time bomb, that is, hunger and poor nutrition,” Gov. Otti stated.
Governor Otti, who urged stakeholders to invest in agro-based solutions, stressed the need to support agriculture as a key strategy to reduce food prices and combat hunger, and emphasised that Nigeria is too blessed to be battling with the crisis of malnutrition.
He assured that he would do everything required to address malnutrition holistically.
“We are not treating malnutrition as an isolated issue. It is part of a larger problem, and we are addressing it by investing in critical development frontiers, including infrastructure, education, health, agriculture, and security.
“As requested by the N774 implementation team, we shall work with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in the State to drive this programme in the communities.
“We shall also make all relevant appointments and set up the important structures that will see to the effective implementation of the program in all nooks and crannies of our State, Gov. Otti stated.
Governor Otti commended the Federal Government for developing a holistic framework to address malnutrition, noting that the N-774 initiative is a timely intervention to save the future.
“It is a timely intervention to save the future of our State and country by addressing what has become a critical threat to physical and cognitive development of the people, especially the younger demography, who are the biggest victims of poor nutrition,” He noted.
The Governor commended the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health and focal person for Nutrition 774 Initiative for her commitment to the initiative and acknowledged the role of the National Council on Nutrition (NCN), chaired by Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, for selecting Abia as the pilot State for the initiative.
Earlier in her speech, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health and focal person on Nutrition 774, Mrs. Uju Anwuka, said that the essence of the workshop was to introduce the initiative to the key stakeholders in Abia State.
She described malnutrition as a national emergency that requires collective efforts and political will at all levels as well as a multisectoral approach to deal with it, adding that the battle against malnutrition would not be won in Abuja alone but with traditional rulers, LGA Chairmen, and other stakeholders in all the 774 LGAs in Nigeria.
While seeking partnership with the Abia State Government, the SSA to the President called for the integration of nutrition into agriculture, education, and health systems of the economy and said that she wants Abia to own the initiative.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Kingsley Anosike, said that the Council is the new dream team tasked to handle the N-774 initiative from conception to delivery.
Mr. Anosike, who noted that the workshop would dwell on those factors that would assist in achieving the goal and objectives of the initiative, urged all participants to engage actively and make the initiative worthwhile.
The event attracted the presence of top government officials.
Ctz. UKOHA NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
23 – 07 – 2025.
