By Chidimma Oparaochaekwe
Stakeholders have called for increased investment in the nutrition, education and economic empowerment of women and girls, warning that poor nutrition remains a major threat to health, human capital development and sustainable development.
The call was made at the 2026 Women in Power Conference (WIPC), organised by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with the Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN).
The conference, held in Lagos, had the theme, “Championing Women and Girls Nutrition for Sustainable Development.”
Presenting an overview of the nutrition situation in Lagos State, the Secretary, State Committee on Food and Nutrition (SCFN), Mrs Taiwo Fadairo, said malnutrition remained a major public health concern affecting children, women, adults and other vulnerable populations.
She identified undernutrition, overnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies as major forms of malnutrition, stressing that healthier eating habits were essential to preventing nutrition-related diseases.
“We should eat our food as if we are taking our medicine. We should not eat anyhow,” she said.
Fadairo disclosed that anaemia among women of reproductive age in Lagos was close to 50 per cent, while only about 14 per cent of mothers-initiated breastfeeding within the first hour of birth.
She said the state was training health workers on maternal, infant and young child nutrition, with emphasis on colostrum and early initiation of breastfeeding.
According to her, Lagos’ exclusive breastfeeding rate stood at about 57.4 per cent, above the global target of 50 per cent, but gaps remained in complementary feeding and the proportion of children receiving a Minimum Acceptable Diet.
“Nutrition must be addressed across the different stages of life, particularly during the first 1,000 days from conception to a child’s second birthday,” she said.
In the keynote address, the wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dr Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, represented by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs Oluremi Hamzat, described nutrition as a foundation for healthy living, human capital development and national prosperity.
“Nutrition is not merely about food. It is about giving every individual the opportunity to live a healthy, productive and fulfilling life,” she said.
Sanwo-Olu said women and mothers had a critical role in promoting healthy diets, breastfeeding and healthy lifestyles in homes and communities.
She stressed that improving nutrition required collective action and urged Nutrition Champions to take advocacy beyond the conference hall into communities.
She assured that Lagos State would continue to support initiatives promoting maternal and child health, women’s empowerment and an enabling environment for families to thrive.
Programme Officer, CS-SUNN, Hope Ikani, said stronger investment in women and girls was critical to improving nutrition outcomes.
“There is no country that can afford to leave half of its people behind,” she said.
Ikani noted that women and girls had specific nutritional needs and were particularly vulnerable to conditions such as anaemia.
She said education and economic empowerment could improve women’s ability to make informed decisions about their health and nutrition.
“An educated and economically empowered woman is better positioned to make informed decisions about her own nutrition and that of her family,” she said.
Ikani called for improved access to land, agriculture, livelihoods and income for women, noting that economic security could improve access to nutritious food and strengthen household well-being.
She also advocated the integration of nutrition into education and other sectors, saying girls should be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to become nutrition advocates among their peers and communities.
She urged government and stakeholders to ensure that existing nutrition policies and guidelines were adequately funded and effectively implemented.
‘Women’s empowerment and nutrition are interconnected’
In her welcome address, the Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Bolaji Cecilia Dada, said nutrition was fundamental to the health and productivity of individuals, families and society.
“For us at the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, women’s empowerment and nutrition are interconnected,” she said.
Dada highlighted the ministry’s food and nutrition programme, Oju-Lore, which provides medical screening, professional nutrition education and healthy food packs to beneficiaries across the five divisions of Lagos State.
“When women have access to skills, income and the right information, they are better able to make healthy decisions for themselves and their families,” she said.
She also identified Lagos State’s six-month maternity leave for civil servants as an important intervention for maternal and child well-being.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals, Dr Oreoluwa Finnih, described the nutrition of women and girls as a critical driver of development.
“When we nourish a girl, we nourish a mother, a family and a nation,” she said.
Finnih said malnutrition should not be viewed solely as a health issue, noting that it could undermine education, productivity and human capital development.
“Healthy and well-nourished women and girls are the foundation of a productive, skilled and competitive workforce,” she added.
She stressed the need for stronger partnerships among government, development partners, civil society and communities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University, Professor Ibiyemi Bello, said nutrition was foundational to human capital development and should receive sustained investment.
“Every investment we make in nutrition today is an investment in tomorrow’s productivity, intellect and national strength,” she said.
Bello also highlighted LASU’s efforts to provide safe and accessible water and food through LASU Water and LASU Bread for members of the university community.
In her opening remarks, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, represented by the Director, Mrs Ola Erinfolami, said women and girls were central to the health and well-being of families and communities.
“When women are informed and empowered, they are better positioned to make healthier choices for themselves, their children and their families,” she said.
She said the Women Champions for Optimal Nutrition Programme was designed to take nutrition information beyond government offices and conference rooms into homes and communities.
“Our Nutrition Champions must become advocates who create awareness, encourage healthier practices and help make nutrition a priority in their communities,” she said.
The high point of the conference was the formal inauguration of Nutrition Champions, with commitments around anaemia prevention and treatment, multiple micronutrient supplementation, nutrition financing, women’s empowerment and education.
The initiative is expected to strengthen community-level advocacy and action while placing women and girls at the centre of efforts to tackle malnutrition and improve health outcomes.
