Abuja | November 6, 2025
Vice President Kashim Shettima has highlighted the immense economic and social value of investing in nutrition, revealing that every dollar invested in improving nutrition yields a return of up to $23 through increased productivity, reduced healthcare costs, and improved educational outcomes.
Speaking at the National Council on Nutrition (NCN) meeting held on Thursday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Shettima underscored the need for Nigeria to treat nutrition not merely as a health issue, but as a strategic pillar of economic development and human capital growth.
“Investing in nutrition is one of the smartest decisions any government can make. It is not charity — it is sound economics. Every dollar invested in nutrition yields about $23 in returns, both in productivity and healthcare savings,” the Vice President said.
Malnutrition: The Hidden Cost to Nigeria’s Growth
Shettima expressed concern over the country’s persistently high rates of malnutrition, describing it as a silent crisis undermining Nigeria’s future prosperity. According to him, millions of Nigerian children under five suffer from stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies, conditions that reduce learning capacity, increase disease vulnerability, and limit lifetime earnings.
“We cannot build a strong and prosperous Nigeria on a foundation of malnourished children. Nutrition is the cornerstone of our national development. It determines how well our children learn, how productive our workforce becomes, and how competitive we are globally,” he said.
According to the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), 33% of Nigerian children under five are stunted, while 19% are underweight, figures that experts say are among the highest in Africa.
Research by the World Bank and Global Nutrition Report estimates that countries lose between 2% and 11% of their GDP annually to malnutrition due to reduced labor productivity and increased health costs.
“If we fail to act now, the cost of inaction will far outweigh the cost of intervention,” Shettima warned.
Government’s Renewed Commitment to Nutrition
The Vice President reiterated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to tackling malnutrition through a multi-sectoral approach that links food, health, education, and social protection.
He announced that the Federal Government had approved the National Multi-Sectoral Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition (2025–2029) — a comprehensive strategy aimed at cutting malnutrition rates by half within five years.
The plan aligns with the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger). It seeks to promote sustainable food systems, enhance dietary diversity, and improve access to affordable and nutritious meals across all regions.
“We are integrating nutrition into every policy — from agricultural planning and education to maternal healthcare and social welfare. The goal is to ensure that no Nigerian goes hungry and every child gets a fair start in life,” Shettima said.
Key Strategies: From Agriculture to Health
The government’s nutrition plan emphasizes:
- Fortifying staple foods such as flour, oil, and salt with essential vitamins and minerals.
- Expanding the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) to reach more pupils while linking it to local agricultural production.
- Promoting exclusive breastfeeding and improved maternal nutrition during pregnancy.
- Investing in smallholder farmers to boost the production of nutrient-rich foods like beans, millet, and vegetables.
- Enhancing community-based nutrition programs that target vulnerable groups in rural and conflict-affected areas.
Shettima said that under the plan, nutrition-sensitive initiatives will be implemented jointly by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and the Ministry of Education, with oversight by the National Council on Nutrition.
Development Partners Back Federal Effort
The Vice President commended Nigeria’s development partners, including UNICEF, World Food Programme (WFP), USAID, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, for their long-standing support in addressing food and nutrition challenges.
“We appreciate our partners’ continued technical and financial contributions. However, Nigeria must take ownership of its nutrition agenda. We cannot depend solely on donor funding — we must invest in our people,” Shettima stressed.
UNICEF’s Country Representative, Cristian Munduate, who attended the meeting, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s nutrition goals, describing the country’s multi-sectoral plan as “a step in the right direction.”
“Nutrition is the foundation of human capital. UNICEF will continue to support Nigeria in scaling up interventions that reach the most vulnerable,” she said.
Economic Benefits of Nutrition Investment
Experts at the meeting presented new data demonstrating that nutrition investments have among the highest returns on investment (ROI) of any development intervention.
A 2023 World Bank study found that:
- Every $1 spent on nutrition yields up to $23 in economic return,
- Countries that prioritize nutrition see higher school completion rates, lower healthcare spending, and increased labor productivity,
- Childhood stunting reduction directly correlates with a rise in GDP per capita.
Dr. Abdulaziz Mohammed, an economist and member of the National Council on Nutrition, said poor nutrition robs Nigeria of billions annually in lost productivity.
“Malnutrition reduces the quality of human capital, which in turn limits innovation and economic growth. Investing in nutrition is not just a social policy — it is a fiscal strategy,” he explained.
Women and Children at the Heart of the Policy
Vice President Shettima emphasized that women and children remain central to the government’s nutrition policy. He said maternal and child health programs will be strengthened to ensure that every child receives the nutrients needed during the crucial first 1,000 days of life — from conception to age two.
He noted that the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) will be restructured to prioritize nutrition quality, local sourcing, and monitoring.
“A healthy start for every child means a stronger nation tomorrow. Our mothers and children must never go hungry,” Shettima said.
The Vice President also announced that the Federal Government would soon launch the National Micronutrient Fortification Initiative, aimed at expanding the fortification of key staples such as rice, maize, and wheat flour.
Private Sector and State Governments Urged to Act
Shettima called on state governors and the private sector to actively participate in the nutrition agenda. He encouraged food manufacturers to invest in fortified products and promote responsible marketing practices.
“The private sector must be a key partner in making nutritious food accessible and affordable. Governors should also integrate nutrition into their annual budgets and agricultural programs,” he said.
Governors from Kano, Lagos, Borno, and Ekiti States attending the meeting pledged increased funding for nutrition programs in their respective states, while the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) announced plans to work with the government on improving food fortification standards.
Nutrition and National Security
Shettima linked improved nutrition to national security and stability, arguing that hunger and malnutrition contribute to youth restiveness and insecurity.
“A hungry population is a vulnerable population. Addressing nutrition is part of addressing insecurity. Well-fed citizens are less likely to fall into crime or extremism,” he said.
Analysts agree that food insecurity and malnutrition exacerbate social tensions in Nigeria’s rural communities, especially in conflict-prone regions of the North-East and North-West.
A Call for National Nutrition Revolution
In his closing remarks, Shettima called for a “national nutrition revolution” that would unite all sectors — government, civil society, academia, and the private sector — to make nutrition a national priority.
“Our vision is clear: a Nigeria where no child suffers from hunger, where every dollar spent on nutrition brings prosperity, and where food is both plentiful and nutritious,” he declared.
He pledged that the Tinubu administration would continue to track progress through data-driven monitoring and transparent reporting systems, ensuring accountability and impact.
