In a bold call to action at the 2025 Nutritious Food Fair held in Kano, traditional and development leaders emphasized the urgent need to tackle the rising threat of malnutrition in Nigeria, particularly among vulnerable women and children.
Speaking through the District Head of Shanono, Dr Mamoud Yashi, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, urged Nigerian authorities to place women’s health at the heart of national development.
He proposed a daily financial support of 200 naira for pregnant women, describing the initiative as a simple but impactful step in combating maternal and child malnutrition.
According to the Emir, access to basic nutrition during pregnancy can significantly reduce the risk of long-term health complications for both mothers and their newborns.
He pointed out that while nutritious foods such as milk, beans, groundnuts, sesame seeds and vegetable oil are readily available in many local communities, the lack of consistent access to them due to poverty remains a critical barrier.
“Even a modest daily allowance can empower expectant mothers to make better nutritional choices,” he said, emphasizing that food security starts at home and must be supported through deliberate policy efforts.
The Nutritious Food Fair, organized by Propcom, drew stakeholders from across the agricultural and health sectors, all united in the fight against malnutrition.
Dr Adiya Ode, Country Representative of the UK-Aid funded Propcom programme, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to breaking the cycle of hunger and poverty in Nigeria.
She explained that Propcom is working closely with partners to strengthen food systems, especially in regions grappling with conflict and the effects of climate change.
She highlighted that one of the project’s core strategies involves boosting agricultural productivity to improve livelihoods, especially in communities that rely on subsistence farming.
Also speaking at the event, Dr Yusuf Dollah Fuad, Country Manager of HarvestPlus, expressed confidence that the resources to end malnutrition already exist within Nigerian communities.
Citing the National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey, he noted that many rural dwellers primarily consume what they grow, underlining the need to enhance both the quality and quantity of local food production.
Dr Fuad stressed that increasing access to biofortified crops and promoting dietary education can go a long way in ensuring that rural populations meet their nutritional needs without relying heavily on imported or processed foods.
The fair served as a platform for collaboration between traditional authorities, development partners and agricultural stakeholders, all of whom agreed that nutrition must become a national priority. Central to this effort, they argued, is the empowerment of women, not only as caregivers but as key drivers of food security and community resilience.
