Bukola Afeni
The Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria(CS-SUNN) has expressed commitment towards addressing pressing challenges related to nutrition, health, and gender equality in Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary of CS-SUNN, Mr Sunday Okoronkwo stated this at a media round table on promoting women and girls empowerment for optimal nutrition in Nigeria in Abuja.
The Executive Secretary was represented by the Program Manager, Dr Goodness Anyanwu.
According to CS-SUNN, empowering women and girls for optimal nutrition is the right path on Nigeria’s journey towards a more prosperous and healthier nation.
The nutrition body is therefore calling for the increased representation of women in decision-making roles to enable them to shape and influence policies and programs for the sustainability of nutrition outcomes and investment outcomes in Nigeria.
“It is also imperative to expand access to public empowerment schemes, such as farming and business loans, scholarships, employment and livelihood support for more women and girls”.
He further reiterated that collaboration with the media, public, private and development sectors, and other stakeholders will break the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition and poverty in Nigeria.
The Deputy Director Child Development Department and Nutrition Focal Officer,
Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. Oliko Christianah, disclosed that nutrition is strategic and should be of interest to every ministry and agency.
She added that women should be introduced to income-generating opportunities so that the family can consume nutritious food.
In the same vein, she noted that women in rural areas lack nutrition education.
“We need to engage in more sensitization activities such that this group of women have access to information about nutritious foods. The farmers should also focus on ensuring that women and girls have access to balanced nutrition”, she said.
Oliko further added that key household issues such as hygiene affect the consumption of quality water and food nutrients.
The Representative of CS-SUNN FCT Coordinator, and the Executive Chairperson, Women and Child Disaster Rescue Initiatives, Amb. Elizabeth Oziri urged nutrition experts not to relent in advocating for optimal nutrition for girls and women.
She advised media practitioners to become agents of change in the nutrition sector through constant reporting of nutrition issues in the country.
” Media should always portray nutrition as a core component of a healthy nation to the general public. Parents need to be taught to prioritise the nutrition of their ward and children from infancy to adulthood, she said.
The Women and Girls Nutrition Project is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and implemented by FHI Solutions, as well as by the CS-SUNN.
