GAIN’s country manager advocates government’s focus on nutrition security

Larry Umunna, country manager (Nigeria) of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) has called on governments at all levels to make nutrition security a priority issue of their developmental programmes.

This would make the country to benefit maximally from the gains made so far by the out-going administration’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA).

A statement by Ayo Oyoze Baje, media consultant to BELLSTECH, a copy of which was made available to BusinessDay, said that Umunna made the call during his presentation as guest lecturer at the 10th Annual College (Faculty) Lecture of the College of Food Sciences of Bells University of Technology, Ota.

Speaking on the theme, ‘The Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Interface: Advancing the Frontiers in Nigeria’, Umunna said there was urgent need for policy makers to distinguish between food and nutrition security.

“It is one thing to produce enough food for the citizens but it is another kettle of fish to ensure that such foods are of high nutritional quality. Equally important is for the citizens to have access to the foods that should be affordable too,” he said.

To bridge this gap, Umunna said there was also the need to have in place a leadership that understands the critical issues at stake.

“This would enable policy makers to initiate programmes to enhance nutrition security,” he said. According to him, “There should be a tripartite arrangement between the ministries of National Planning, Health and Agriculture to fast track this process. Also significant is the provision of solid infrastructure, including good access road network, stable electric power and water supplies.