Vice President Kashim Shettima has officially inaugurated the Strategic Board of the Nutrition 774 Initiative, describing it as “a war room assembled to win the battle against malnutrition in every corner of Nigeria.”
The launch comes as the federal government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has declared malnutrition a national emergency.
The Vice President speaking at the inauguration,emphasised the urgency of the mission. “This is not a tea-drinking exercise,” he said. “This is a race against time.”
The Nutrition 774 Initiative is designed to drive coordinated, multisectoral action across all 774 local government areas (LGAs) of the country. It is not framed as a one-time project but as a framework to build political will, improve financing, and strengthen accountability for nutrition policies and programs.
The strategic board includes top officials from across the government. Members include the Vice President as Chair, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), the President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), and Ministers, including those of Finance, Health, Budget and Economic Planning, Agriculture, and Women Affairs.
Also on the board are the Chair of the Chairmen of State Assembly Committees on Nutrition and the Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition.
During the event, speakers from various ministries and legislative bodies echoed the urgency of the initiative. The Minister of Budget, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, described it as “a reckoning with history,” while the Minister of Women Affairs emphasised the importance of women’s economic empowerment in addressing malnutrition.
Hon. Chike Okafor also expressed full legislative backing for the initiative. The initiative directly supports the Renewed Hope Agenda, aiming to invest in human capital, fight hunger and poverty, empower communities, and promote equity across Nigeria’s regions.
Nutrition 774 aims to coordinate efforts that improve food security, enhance nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and establish lasting systems to provide safe, diverse, and nutrient-rich food to households nationwide.
The board will oversee the collaboration between the agriculture and health sectors to improve child growth, maternal well-being, and community health outcomes.
The implementation of Nutrition 774 is expected to bring visible results, from policy to the grassroots, improving the nutritional status of millions and ensuring food systems work for the health and future of all Nigerians.
