By Queen Kunde
As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week, the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), FCT/Abuja Chapter, has intensified advocacy for exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of a child’s life.
The week-long celebration, which runs from August 1 to 7, began in Abuja with an outreach and sensitisation campaign organised by the NSN FCT Chapter in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigerian Army Command and the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA) Hospital, Asokoro.
The celebration, with the theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” brought together military personnel, their wives, breastfeeding mothers, pregnant women, nutrition experts and other stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, the Director and Head of the Nutrition Department at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mrs Olufunmilola Adegbite, stressed the need for mothers to feed their babies only breast milk for the first six months of life.
She explained that exclusive breastfeeding means giving an infant only breast milk, without water, other liquids or solid foods.
Adegbite said breastfeeding should begin within one hour after birth, noting that the first thick, yellowish milk known as colostrum is highly important to a child’s growth and survival.
According to her, colostrum acts as a child’s first natural vaccine and helps protect infants against common childhood illnesses by strengthening their immunity.
She expressed concern over cases of malnutrition among young children, especially infants who are not adequately fed, and called for stronger support for breastfeeding mothers at home, in communities and workplaces.
“We have a lot of things that have worked in our country in terms of breastfeeding, and we want to strengthen them,” she said.
Adegbite commended the Nigerian Army for providing healthcare support for military personnel and their families, describing community health as essential to achieving positive social and development outcomes.
Also speaking, the Chief Medical Director of the Army Command and NAOWA Hospital, Asokoro, Brig.-Gen. Abraham Sunday Ayeni, described mothers as great contributors to humanity whose sacrifices begin during pregnancy and continue through childbirth and years of nurturing.
He said the Nigerian Army supports exclusive breastfeeding and encourages military personnel to provide the needed care and support to their wives and breastfeeding mothers.
Ayeni added that World Breastfeeding Week had become an important period for celebrating mothers and promoting practices that give children a healthy start in life.
The Commanding Officer, 7 Guards Battalion, Nigerian Army, Lungi Barracks, Abuja, Lt.-Col. Olayinka Ismaila Ayuba, thanked the organisers for bringing the campaign to the barracks.
He said the awareness programme had provided participants with useful knowledge on the importance of breastfeeding and proper infant care.
The outreach was led by the Chairman of the NSN FCT/Abuja Chapter, Major Edith Nwachinemere (Rtd), alongside nutrition officers and other experts.
Participants were educated on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for children’s brain development, healthy growth and stronger immunity, as well as the importance of continued breastfeeding up to two years.
The programme featured health talks, interactive discussions, songs and practical demonstrations on proper breastfeeding positions to help mothers breastfeed comfortably and effectively.
Breastfeeding mothers and pregnant women were also given the opportunity to ask questions and receive professional guidance from nutrition and health experts.
In her closing remarks, Major Nwachinemere thanked the Nigerian Army, officers, their wives, mothers, dignitaries and members of the NSN FCT Chapter for contributing to the success of the event.
She urged families and communities to continue supporting breastfeeding mothers, stressing that stronger support systems would help more children enjoy a healthy and sustainable start in life.