By Queen Kunde
In Abuja the nations capital, the usually quiet conference halls throbbed with urgency as nearly 200 voices drawn from government offices to grassroots communities—gathered for one national purpose: securing Nigeria’s future through nutrition.
For two days, 24–25 November 2025, the National Nutrition Dialogue brought together policymakers, academics, youth advocates, women’s groups, development partners, and representatives from every corner of the country. But behind the official speeches and technical reports lay a simple truth many participants repeated: malnutrition is no longer a statistic—it is a lived experience in homes, markets, and communities across Nigeria.
Mrs. Clementina Okoro, representing the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, set the tone early. “Nutrition is not an event. It is life,” she told the hall, urging Nigerians to confront the silent crisis affecting millions of children and adults. Her words echoed through the gathering as participants reflected on this year’s theme “Sustainable Nutrition for a Healthier and Productive Nigeria.”
One after another, speakers linked the dinner plate to the national economy.
To set the tone for discussion, a veteran in the campaign for a Nutrition secured Nigerian population, Professor Ngozi Nnam narrated the journey so far, explaining the vital role consistency in advocacy has played in improving the nutrition situation in the country despite numerous challenges.
“If we had done nothing at all, the nutrition situation would have been worse, such that as a country we wouldn’t be able to raise our head in the global space” she added urging for a continued commemoration of the National Nutrition week which she was instrumental to it’s formation a decade ago.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Chris Osa Isokpunwu, warned that “a nation cannot grow on an empty stomach,” stressing that malnutrition fuels low productivity and weakens the workforce. The message was clear: if Nigeria must compete globally, nutrition must move from the margins to the mainstream of national planning.
When the Honourable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Atiku Bagudu—represented by Acting Permanent Secretary Dr. Sampson Ebimaro—officially flagged off the week, he launched a new Nutrient Profile for Nigerian Dishes. For many participants, this symbolic start signaled a shift toward practical, data-driven action.
Across panel sessions, emotions ran high. Youth representatives spoke of children going to school hungry. Women’s groups recounted the struggles of feeding families amid rising food prices. Experts pointed to climate change destabilizing food systems. Data analysts warned that without proper monitoring, progress would remain slow and uneven.
Day two deepened the conversations. Data specialists like Mrs. Kimberly Idoko of HSDF and Dr. Folake Anjorin of DataDENT reminded the audience that nutrition cannot be fixed with guesswork. “Data must drive decisions,” they emphasized, calling for stronger tracking tools to expose gaps and guide investments that truly reach households.
What emerged from the dialogue was a powerful set of commitments—more than policy statements, they reflected a national awakening.
Stakeholders agreed that ministries must work together without duplicating efforts. Youths, women, religious leaders, and traditional rulers must be at the table when policies are drafted—not after. Government must create predictable funding for nutrition and encourage local food producers with tax incentives. The private sector must be supported to make nutritious foods affordable. Research must translate into real solutions. Media must be equipped to tell nutrition stories responsibly. And data must become the lifeline of all planning.
Perhaps the most human-centered resolution came from community representatives who insisted that nutrition education must return to villages, homes, and markets where mothers, fathers, and caregivers make the choices that shape children’s futures.
The Dialogue ended with a strong collective pledge: Nigeria cannot afford to treat nutrition as an afterthought. The commitments made in Abuja must now move into budgets, community programs, food systems, and everyday habits across the nation.
As participants filed out of the hall, one sentiment lingered in the air: a healthier Nigeria is possible—but only if every stakeholder keeps the promise made during these two days.
The communique concluded with a unified call to action—urgent, transparent, and collaborative. Because in the words repeated throughout the Dialogue: the fight against malnutrition is not just about food; it is about the future of Nigeria itself.
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