Korede Abdullah 
LAGOS, Nigeria – Lagos State is rolling out a 90-day therapeutic nutrition rescue programme targeting 150 vulnerable children across eight local government areas, as officials warn that Nigeria’s soaring malnutrition crisis demands immediate intervention.
Speaking at the launch of the Gifted Health Nutrition Programme in Ikeja on Wednesday, Permanent Secretary of Health District VI, Dr Olufemi Omololu, says the country’s global ranking on childhood malnutrition is alarming. “With Nigeria ranked second globally, we need to address this,” he says. “The programme seeks to identify malnourished children, provide supplementation, empower mothers and monitor results.”
Omololu emphasises the role of fathers, saying nutrition responsibility must be shared. “For a long time, we focused on women’s empowerment and neglected the men,” he notes.
Medical Officer of Health for the district, Dr Folashade Tawak, highlights that a child’s first 1,000 days determine cognitive development. She warns that poor nutrition causes lifelong damage. “If we are not paying keen attention to what goes into their mouths, we can be causing problems that cannot be corrected later,” she says.
Citing UNICEF data, Tawak stresses: “Nigeria happens to be ranked second… Is that a good thing? No, it’s not.”
The programme also teaches mothers practical food preparation skills to complement medical support.
Parents at the event welcome the initiative. Mrs Mariam Adeyemi, a street sweeper, says, “My son had been losing weight steadily, and I didn’t know what else to do. This programme gives me hope.”
Another mother, Mrs Chinyere Okafor, adds, “The food support and training will really help. I’ve learnt things today that I didn’t know before.”
HEI founder Pascal Achunine says millions remain at risk. “Nigeria has over 10 million malnourished children… 3.5 million face severe acute malnutrition,” he warns.
About the Author
Oluwafunbi Bello 
Oluwatobi Adu 
Koko Maxwella 
Hussaini Ibrahim