The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has commended Governor Peter Mbah for his administration’s strategic investment in improving the nutrition, health, and wellbeing of women and children, describing Enugu State as one of the first in Nigeria to invest in multiple micronutrients.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
The commendation came on Tuesday during the formal handover of nutrition commodities under the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) to the Enugu State Government. The UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria, Wafaa Saeed, delivered the message through the Chief of Nutrition Section, Nemat Hajeebhoy.
The commodities procured through a matching fund arrangement between UNICEF and the Mbah administration include Small-Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS), Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), and Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS). The supplies are aimed at addressing malnutrition among children and pregnant women.
UNICEF praised the state’s proactive approach, noting that Enugu had distinguished itself as a model for subnational governments.
“UNICEF commends Enugu State’s leadership and contribution to the Child Nutrition Fund, positioning the state as a model. Enugu is one of the first states to procure MMS and among the few prioritising prevention through SQ-LNS,” Saeed stated.
She, however, raised concerns over the growing burden of malnutrition in Nigeria, describing it as a critical public health challenge. She urged stakeholders to ensure efficient distribution of the commodities to underserved communities, while emphasising the importance of strong monitoring systems, community sensitisation, and accountability frameworks.
In her opening remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Ifeyinwa Ani-Osheku, described the event as a historic milestone in the state’s fight against malnutrition.
According to her, the handover represents not merely a transfer of commodities but “the transfer of potential.” She disclosed that the supplies include 854 cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition, and 2,088 cartons of Small-Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements to support children during critical stages of growth and brain development.
Ani-Osheku further revealed that Enugu is the only state in the federation co-financing the procurement of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements through the CNF. She noted that this intervention directly targets the high prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women and aligns with the state’s broader human capital development strategy.
Also speaking, the Deputy Chairman of ALGON in the state and Chairman of Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area, Barr. Ferdinand Ukwueze, commended Governor Mbah for prioritising child survival and wellbeing. He assured that local government authorities would ensure effective last-mile distribution of the commodities to beneficiaries across communities.
A traditional ruler, Igwe Innocent Ogbodo of Ndiagu Akpugo in Nkanu West Local Government Area, also lauded the administration’s focus on healthcare and education. He called for greater commitment from health workers to maximise the impact of the intervention.
The Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Hon Ngozi Enih, described the initiative as a reflection of strong political will. She noted that the prompt release of counterpart funding by the state government had strengthened its partnership with UNICEF, adding that mechanisms had been put in place to ensure transparency and effective distribution.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Human Capital Development and Poverty Eradication, Prof Benedette Okolie, underscored the importance of nutrition in building a productive society, stressing the need for sustained collaboration among stakeholders to achieve long-term impact.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof George Ugwu, also commended the governor for what he described as deliberate and large-scale investment in children’s healthcare, particularly in combating malnutrition. He assured that the ministry would deploy effective tracking mechanisms to ensure equitable distribution of the commodities, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Donor Relations, Hon Dubem Onyia Jnr, appreciated UNICEF’s continued support, describing the partnership as crucial to advancing development outcomes and improving child welfare in the state.
Responding on behalf of the governor, the Deputy Governor, Barr Ifeanyi Ossai, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with UNICEF and other development partners.
He disclosed that the government had established nutrition desk officers across the 17 local government areas to drive grassroots implementation and ensure effective tracking of pregnant women and children.
Ossai further noted that the state’s Smart Schools feeding programme designed to provide at least one nutritious meal daily in over 260 Smart Schools across the state’s 260 political wards would complement existing nutrition interventions and address malnutrition holistically.
While commending UNICEF’s support, he called for sustained partnership to guarantee the long-term success of the feeding programme, noting that it requires substantial financial investment.