Nigeria to deepen Nutrition 774 with lessons from Ethiopia – VP Shettima

Vice President Kashim Shettima has said Nigeria will deepen the implementation of the Nutrition 774 Initiative with practical lessons from Ethiopia’s experience in tackling malnutrition, strengthening food systems and coordinating nutrition interventions across different levels of government.

The Vice President said the knowledge gained from the three-day Nigeria–Ethiopia Nutrition Leadership Exchange would be adapted to Nigeria’s realities, particularly in strengthening collaboration among the Federal Government, states and local governments to improve nutrition outcomes at the community and household levels.

VP Shettima stated this as he returned to Abuja on Friday after leading Nigeria’s delegation to the leadership exchange in Addis Ababa and Oromia, Ethiopia, themed “Moving the Needle on Nutrition.”

During the visit, the Vice President held a bilateral meeting with Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister, H.E. Temesgen Tiruneh, where both leaders reviewed bilateral relations and explored opportunities for deeper cooperation in agriculture, trade, investment, food security, aviation and other areas of mutual interest.

At the opening session of the exchange, VP Shettima emphasised the value of African countries learning from one another, noting that Ethiopia’s Seqota Declaration and Nigeria’s Nutrition 774 Initiative provide useful platforms for sharing home-grown approaches to addressing malnutrition.

He also highlighted Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen nutrition financing, accountability and subnational implementation, stressing that improved nutrition is critical to human capital development, productivity and economic growth.

On the second day of the programme, the Vice President led governors, ministers and other stakeholders on field engagements across Oromia focused on agriculture value-chain transformation.

The delegation visited wheat, banana and papaya farms, the “Bounty of the Basket” Training Centre and households in Mojo, as well as other facilities, to study how agricultural production, food systems and value-chain development are being linked to improved nutrition and livelihoods.

VP Shettima also visited the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute, where the delegation received briefings on the application of technology, data and innovation to development and public-sector delivery.

The final day of the exchange focused on early childhood development, with engagements covering pre-primary education, healthcare, daycare and parental coaching, followed by a working session on translating lessons from Ethiopia into concrete commitments for the Nutrition 774 Initiative.

The programme culminated in a Nigeria Country Session and a joint closing ceremony attended by VP Shettima and Deputy Prime Minister Tiruneh, during which both countries reaffirmed their commitment to sustained cooperation and knowledge exchange on nutrition and development.

The Nigerian delegation included the Governor of Jigawa State, Malam Umar Namadi; Governor of Zamfara State, Dr. Dauda Lawal; Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke; and Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR.

Also on the delegation were the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, CON; Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, CON; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, CON; Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa; and Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev.

Others included the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar; Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Muyi Aina; National President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. (Engr.) Bello Lawal; and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health and Nutrition 774 Focal Person, Mrs. Uju Rochas-Anwukah, alongside officials of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and members of the Nutrition Technical Team.

Vice President Shettima said the real measure of the exchange would be how effectively the lessons are translated into improved outcomes for Nigerian families, particularly women and children, through stronger implementation of Nutrition 774 across the country.

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