Yobe State governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, has inaugurated the State Council on Nutrition 774 initiative to implement the programme in the state.
The council was inaugurated when he received Mrs Uju Rochas-Anwukah, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, who was in the state for advocacy on the Nutrition 774 initiative.
“It is my pleasure to humbly and proudly share with you that our administration in Yobe State launched a massive agricultural empowerment programme to boost food security, nutrition and economic growth.”
According to him, this encouraged mass involvement of “our people in agricultural production, paving the way for a smooth and easy collaboration, and integration into the Nutrition 774 programme, bringing both Yobe state and the Federal Government on the same page”, he said.
He said that the Yobe State government has integrated nutrition-sensitive interventions into the state’s health, education, and social protection programmes, as well as the skill acquisition programme of the state Ministry of Women Affairs, being part of the state’s recovery programme to build a healthy population.
“The Nutrition 774 Initiative reflects a bold and transformative vision that every Local Government Area becomes a hub for community driven nutrition action. It underscores the importance of strong coordination, multi-sectoral collaboration, and the active participation of our people at the grassroots,” he added.
“We have through strong partnerships with development partners such as UNICEF, UNFPA, the World Food Program, World Bank, UNDP and other partners expanded community-based nutrition services, strengthened maternal and child health systems, and improved access to life-saving interventions for vulnerable groups.”
He added that, “ We are also investing in data systems and local capacity to enhance planning, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making in nutrition programming.
“The visit therefore presents us with a valuable opportunity to deepen collaboration between the Federal and State Governments. We are eager to identify priority areas where federal technical and financial support can complement our ongoing efforts to catalyse impactful delivery at the grassroots,” said the governor.
He stressed the need for a holistic approach involving traditional and religious leaders, civil society organizations, the private sector, and local communities to take ownership of the initiative and work together to ensure that no child in Yobe State suffers the lifelong consequences of malnutrition.
“Let me tell you that our collective goal is to build a generation that is healthy, strong, and productive, capable of contributing meaningfully to our state and nation’s future and to build a future where every Yobe child can grow, learn, and thrive, “ said Buni.
In her response, the senior special assistant to the President on Public Health, Mrs Uju Rochas-Anwukah, commended Governor Buni for his achievements in healthcare delivery and agriculture as necessary sectors for nutritional development.
“You have been a great silent achiever especially in agriculture and the health sector making us all proud, and we hope these achievements would reflect in the Nutrition 774 initiative,” she added.
She expressed optimism that the programme would be a success story in Yobe State.
