The federal government has announced its participation in the Grand Challenges Nigeria (GCNg) Project, a global health initiative aimed at combating malnutrition and food insecurity in Nigeria.
Vice President Kashim Shettima unveiled the partnership targeted at addressing Nigeria’s pressing nutritional challenges with the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN) during a high-level meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Addressing the delegation, Shettima emphasised the need for constructive action over protest, even as he acknowledged the hardship being faced by Nigerians due to recent economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidies.
As part of the government’s response to the nutritional crisis, VP Shettima reiterated the government’s commitment to the Nutrition 774 Initiative, explaining that “catalytic initiatives like the Nutrition 774 Initiative are meticulously designed to incentivize positive changes across our communities”
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Leader of the NSN delegation, Professor Hafiz Abubakar, called on the Vice President as Chairman of the Nutrition Council of Nigeria to spearhead the government’s component of the project and galvanise ministerial support for it.
Senior Programmes Manager for Grand Challenges Nigeria, Godwin Bamsa, provided context on the initiative’s global impact, noting that since 2003, the Gates Foundation has invested over $1.6 billion in health and innovation projects across 118 countries.
The GCNg Project, a collaboration with the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, is set to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in addressing public health and food system challenges.
(Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie)
