Gov Otti inaugurates Abia Nutrition Council

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On Tuesday, Abia State Governor Alex Otti officially launched the Abia State Council on Nutrition, a body tasked with driving the implementation of the Federal Government’s Nutrition 774 (N-774) Initiative.

While inaugurating the Council, which has been set up to offer strategic guidance, policy oversight, and coordination for sustained nutrition programs throughout the state in alignment with the national N-774 directive, Governor Otti described the program as a positive and timely intervention.

He noted that the advocacy visit by the National Technical Working Group headed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health and the N-774 Nutrition Focal Person, Mrs. Uju Rochas-Anwukah would help raise awareness and encourage more deliberate tracking and reporting of nutrition-related indicators across multiple sectors within the state.

This information was shared in a statement released on Wednesday by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha.

“Clearly, when you talk about nutrition, the initiative is very good and we welcome it. The heavy investments we are making, first of all, in healthcare 15% of our total budget envelope in the last two years has been reserved for healthcare and 20% for education. So that’s a whopping 35% of the total budget.

“So, when you see us fixing roads in Aba, in Umuahia, cleaning up the environment, ensuring that the investments we are making in healthcare you will find that if people are well fed, they will probably not be sick. So, you will find that your investment is good there, and the number of people that take ill will be reducing.

“So, what am I driving at? I’m saying as a government, we’ve taken those decisions that give the kind of outcomes you are monitoring.

“But we have not been deliberate in monitoring the numbers. And now that you have come here, if there’s nothing else you have succeeded in doing, it’s to now get us to be deliberate in monitoring our numbers,” Gov. Otti stated.

The Governor encouraged members of the newly established Nutrition Council to prioritize strong coordination and consistent monitoring of performance, describing such commitment as a vital form of direct intervention.

Offering insights into the initiative, Uju Rochas-Anwukah, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Nutrition and the designated lead for the Nutrition 774 project, explained that the N-774 is a community-centered, cross-sector initiative designed to enhance nutrition levels in all 774 local government areas across the country.

She pointed out that malnutrition is a serious global challenge that demands unified action and expressed concern over Nigeria’s position as the second-highest in global malnutrition rankings. She further noted that malnutrition accounts for nearly 45% of child mortality and perpetuates generational poverty.

According to her, Nutrition 774 is a flagship program of the National Council on Nutrition and was developed to strategically combat malnutrition. The initiative incorporates a wide-ranging approach that includes health care, education, food systems, water and sanitation, and social safety nets.

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She also praised Governor Otti for the significant reforms and improvements being carried out in Abia State, describing them as clear reflections of his leadership strength.

“We may not reside here, but even from Abuja, we hear the testimonies of progress. We sincerely commend you, and this speaks volumes of your leadership and vision, and we congratulate you and your entire team. Your Excellency, malnutrition is a menace killing our people.

“It’s a global challenge. It doesn’t just exist here in Nigeria. It’s a universal issue that does not understand tribal differences.

“It doesn’t understand religious differences. It does not understand political differences. But it’s one that requires a collective, collaborative effort across all sectors and across all tiers of government,” Rochas-Anwukah stated.

The Council, under the leadership of the Governor as Chairman, comprises members selected from key government ministries and sectors. The Commissioner for Budget and Planning will serve as Vice Chairman, while other members include the Chairperson of the House Committee on Food and Nutrition, the ALGON Chairman, and Commissioners responsible for Health, Agriculture, Basic and Secondary Education, Finance, Women Affairs, Information, Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Power and Public Utilities, as well as Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and Planning has been appointed as the Council’s Secretary.

Senior government officials were present during the inauguration and council meeting.

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