NMC 2025 Opens in Abuja as Experts Converge to Tackle Hidden Hunger

By Queen Kunde

Alarmed by the rising tide of malnutrition across the country, key government officials, lawmakers, development partners and nutrition experts on Thursday converged on Abuja for the 2025 National Micronutrient Conference (NMC), renewing Nigeria’s fight against “hidden hunger.”

The landmark hybrid conference opened on Thursday, December 18, 2025, in the nation’s capital, drawing participants from across Nigeria and beyond.

In a compelling welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mrs. Daju Kachollom, set the tone for the meeting, urging participants to see the gathering as more than just another conference.

“This conference must be more than a meeting,” Kachollom charged. “It should be a platform for honest assessment, shared learning and collective action.”

She explained that the 2025 conference builds on the foundation laid by the maiden edition in 2019, adding that over the two days, stakeholders would review progress, showcase evidence-based innovations, strengthen partnerships and agree on priorities to guide Nigeria’s next phase of action against micronutrient deficiencies.

Goodwill messages followed from national and international partners, all echoing a shared commitment to tackling malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies nationwide.

Providing strong legislative backing, the Chairman, House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Hon. Chika Okafor, PhD, assured participants of the National Assembly’s continued support for nutrition security.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, in his opening remarks, reaffirmed the federal government’s seriousness and resolve to confront malnutrition head-on.

The show of solidarity cut across ministries and the Presidency. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, alongside the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr. Salma Ibrahim Anas and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, Mrs. Uju Rochas-Anwuka, pledged sustained inter-ministerial collaboration to reverse Nigeria’s malnutrition burden.

In a keynote address, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, CON, described the conference as “a decisive step toward a singular goal — ending hunger and malnutrition in Nigeria.”

Backing words with action, Professor Pate inaugurated the Micronutrient Deficiency Control (MNDC) Advisory Committee and formally launched key national nutrition policies.

Delivering the vote of thanks, the outgoing Director of Nutrition at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mrs. Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, mni, expressed deep appreciation to stakeholders for their unwavering support. Her remarks earned her a standing ovation in recognition of her years of meritorious service.

Highlights of the opening day included free medical check-ups and exhibitions of nutrition and food fortification products by various stakeholders. Technical sessions took centre stage, featuring rich discussions, data-driven insights and expert contributions.

The conference, themed “Strengthening Resilient Systems for Addressing Micronutrient Deficiencies in Nigeria,” brought together policymakers, duty bearers, public and private sector leaders, development partners, academics, the media and other critical stakeholders.

Organisers say even more impactful conversations and practical solutions are expected to dominate proceedings on the second day, as Nigeria sharpens its strategy to defeat malnutrition.