Juliet Jacob 
NAFDAC DG, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye
ABUJA, Nigeria – The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched three major health initiatives aimed at improving the wellbeing of women and children across Nigeria, marking a renewed push to combat malnutrition, unsafe medicines, and maternal and child health challenges.
Speaking at the official launch in Abuja on Tuesday, NAFDAC Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, described the programmes as “a landmark moment in Nigeria’s effort to guarantee access to safe, effective, and high-quality medical products and nutrition services.”
The new interventions include the Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health + Nutrition (MNCH+N) Initiative, the NAFDAC Office of Women and Children’s Health (NOWCH), and the National Action Plan on Prevention, Detection, and Response to Substandard and Falsified Medical Products (2023–2027).
“These three interconnected pillars demonstrate our steadfast commitment to safeguarding the most vulnerable members of our society,” Adeyeye said.
The newly created NOWCH will champion safe motherhood, promote responsible medicine use, encourage breastfeeding, and address the risks associated with drug misuse and unsafe cosmetic products. Adeyeye added that the office would also support local production of paediatric medicines and menstrual hygiene products through partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, and the private sector.
Under the MNCH+N Initiative, NAFDAC will strengthen regulations around nutrition commodities, enforce breastfeeding-friendly policies, and promote interventions that reduce maternal and child mortality. The agency will collaborate with international partners including WHO, UNICEF, and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) to enhance sustainable nutrition outcomes nationwide.
Addressing the issue of unsafe medicines, Adeyeye said the National Action Plan on Substandard and Falsified Medical Products will provide a coordinated framework for prevention, detection, and response — mobilising both national and international stakeholders to protect public health and strengthen pharmaceutical supply chains.
“Together, these initiatives reaffirm NAFDAC’s vision of a healthier Nigeria — where no mother dies from preventable causes, no child suffers from malnutrition, and no patient is harmed by falsified medical products,” Adeyeye concluded.
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