The 16th Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II, has called for intensified grassroots nutrition education, especially targeting women before conception, as part of efforts to combat malnutrition in Nigeria.
Speaking through the District Head of Shanono, Dr Mamoud Yashi, during the 2025 Nutritious Food Fair held in Kano, Sanusi described malnutrition as a deep pain in our society, lamenting that it remained a significant threat to women and children.
He urged policymakers and traditional leaders to focus interventions on women before and during pregnancy because once a child is born malnourished, it is often too late to reverse the damage.
The Emir emphasised the importance of locally available foods in addressing the problem, saying, “We have nutritious foods around us—milk, groundnuts, beans, beni seed, and vegetable oil—that can help fight malnutrition if properly utilised”. He also called for health and traditional institutions to identify and guide expectant mothers on healthy dietary practices.
Sanusi further recommended that pregnant women receive small financial support. “If every pregnant woman gets as little as N200 daily, it could go a long way in addressing malnutrition in our communities,” he added, commending the fair’s organisers to promote food security and better health.
HarvestPlus Solution Country Manager, Dr Yusuf Fu’ad, highlighted that the fair, coinciding with World Food Day, showcases five years of promoting nutrition-sensitive value chains in northern Nigeria through support from the UK-funded Propcom+ project.
“These biofortified crops are high-yielding and nutrient-rich, improving income and nutrition. This fair helps us reflect on progress and explore job opportunities in the value chains,” he said.
Also speaking, Dr Adiya Ode, Country Representative of Propcom+, noted that Nigeria ranks 115th out of 123 countries in the 2025 Global Hunger Index, with over 31.8 million people facing acute food insecurity.
She emphasised that food is life and called for stronger partnerships to make nutritious food more available, affordable, and sustainable.
She reaffirmed the UK government’s commitment to supporting climate-smart, market-driven solutions that empower smallholder farmers, strengthen local economies, and ensure better food leads to a better future for all.
Highlights of the food fair include the launch of the millet book by Governor Abba Yusuf, represented by the commissioner of health, Abubakar Labaran, the unveiling of the smart mother initiative, and the finals of the Nutri Quiz for school children, among others.
