Vice President Kashim Shettima on Friday charged local government chairmen across Nigeria to take ownership of the implementation of the Nutrition 774 (N-774) Initiative, describing them as critical drivers of the campaign against malnutrition. Speaking at a meeting in Abuja, Shettima emphasized that local governments are best positioned to reach communities with nutrition interventions.
The N-774 Initiative aims to address malnutrition, which affects millions of children in Nigeria. According to UNICEF, Nigeria has the second highest burden of stunted children globally, with about 12 million children under five affected. Shettima called on the chairmen to prioritize nutrition programs and ensure effective use of resources.
The vice president also highlighted the role of the initiative in supporting the federal government's efforts to reduce malnutrition rates. He urged collaboration with state governments and development partners to scale up interventions. The meeting was part of a series of engagements to strengthen the implementation of the initiative.
