- I am deeply honoured to address you today at this important event, the 2025 National Micronutrient Conference themed: “Strengthening Resilient Systems for Addressing Micronutrient Deficiencies in Nigeria”. This gathering underscores the magnitude of micronutrient deficiency in our country and reflects our shared commitment to tackling it as one of the most pressing public health and developmental challenges confronting our nation.
- For us therefore our conversation today should be seen not just as a talk shop but as a national platform for dialogue, reflection, and coordinated action to address this severe public health issue which affects millions of Nigerians especially our children and pregnant women. I commend the Director of Nutrition of the Ministry and all her team for reawakening this national conference in accordance with a key resolution of the Multiple Micronutrient Supplement Taskforce. I also commend the initiative to re-inaugurate the National Advisory Committee of the Micronutrient Deficiency and Control, signaling a renewed national commitment to tackling malnutrition.
- Micronutrient deficiencies—often called “hidden hunger” as we know affects millions of Nigerians, particularly under five children, pregnant and lactating women, adolescents, elderly and other vulnerable groups. It is an invisible crisis with visible consequencies leading to stunted growth, weakened immunity, poor cognitive development, and increased risk of disease and death. Beyond health, micronutrient deficiency hinder educational achievement, productivity, and national development. It is therefore a matter of major concern that from the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, stunting remains at 40%, wasting at 8%, and underweight at 27% among children 6–59 months old in our country. These unacceptable statistics is a call to act urgently, and sustainably targetting the most vulnerable and adopting the whole of society approach. This is in tandem with Renewed Hope Agenda which seeks to positively transform our country focusing on tangible improvements in daily live and securing a prosperous future.
- The National Micronutrient Conference established as Nigeria’s commitments to global and regional resolutions on tackling micronutrient deficiencies, particularly following the West Africa Regional Meeting on Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) hosted in Abuja in 1999 with the inaugural conference convened in 2001 to focus on Universal Salt Iodisation (USI) and early strategies for Vitamin A supplementation and iron/folate fortification.
- For some years, this national conference which was building a strong tradition of evidence-based dialogue to address themes like iodine deficiency elimination, vitamin A supplementation, food fortification, infant and young child feeding could not hold. The holding of this 2025 edition to be accompanied by the re-inauguration of the National Advisory Committee on Micronutrient Deficiency and Control signaled a renewed commitment by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to tackle malnutrition as fundamental impairer of human capital development which perpetuates a viscious cyle of poverty and underdevelopment. It a strategic initiative not only to give hope of full actualization of their potentials to the present generation but to also secure it for the coming ones.
- The Biennial National Micronutrient Conference will provide us with a strategic forum to review progress made in our micronutrient interventions, identify implementation gaps and emerging challenges, share innovations, evidence, and best practices; and strengthen multi-sectoral partnerships across government, development agencies, academia, and the private sector. It is an opportunity to align efforts with the National Multisectoral Plan of Action on Food and Nutrition and reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to global nutrition targets and the Sustainable Development Goals.
- Over the years, the Conference has helped establish Nigeria as a regional leader in micronutrient deficiency control, provided a platform for policy formulation, including fortification of wheat flour, vegetable oil, and sugar, helped strengthened partnerships between government, private sector, and development agencies. Our resolve as a ministry is to ensure its continuation and robustly deploy the outputs for policy formulations, resources mobilization and programmes implemetation.
- The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare will therefore continue to prioritize nutrition as a cornerstone of human capital development. This is being done through initiatives such as the Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) for pregnant women, Vitamin A supplementation for children, Food fortification and salt iodization, Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition initiatives, and Partnerships for food diversity through locally produced nutrient-rich foods.
- Collectively, we are demonstrating strong national ownership and accountability. However, we recognize that more must be done, particularly in strengthening food systems, expanding program coverage, working with sub-national governments, adopting a multi-sectoral approach and ensuring sustainability. We will continue to work across sectors, across governments, and with all stakeholders to ensure that nutritional deficiencies that impairs active, health life and optimal development is eliminated from our society.
- With this year’s National Micronutrient Conference, we are reminded that no single sector or institution can end malnutrition alone. It calls us to act collectively towards building a resilient nutrition systems that ensure every Nigerian has access to essential micronutrients for optimal health and development. The health and future of our people is profoundly influenced by nutrition. Let us use this platform to renew our resolve, mobilize resources, and scale up impactful nutrition actions across all levels. Let us use it to reaffirm our shared vision of a Nigeria where every child grows healthy, every woman thrives in pregnancy, and every family enjoys access to nutritious food.
And so with peace and plenty, Nigeria may be blessed.
Thank you, and I wish us all fruitful deliberations.
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