Nutrition key to Kaduna’s human capital development — Dep gov

The Kaduna State Government has described nutrition as a critical component of its human capital development agenda, saying well-nourished children have better prospects for healthy growth, learning and survival.

The Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, stated this at the Women in Power Conference 2026, where she was formally recognised as a Kaduna State Nutrition Champion.

Balarabe, who represented Governor Uba Sani at the event, said investment in nutrition should not be viewed solely as spending on healthcare but as an investment in the future of the state.

“A child who is well nourished has a better opportunity to grow, learn and survive,” she said.

“Consequently, investing in nutrition is not simply an investment in health; it is an investment in the future of our dear state and country.”

She said the administration would continue to strengthen nutrition financing and related health interventions, adding that recent programmes had recorded measurable outcomes across the state.

According to her, Kaduna achieved 82 per cent coverage for Vitamin A supplementation and 79 per cent coverage for Mid-Upper Arm Circumference screening during the June 2026 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week.

She also disclosed that 30,089 children across the state’s 23 local government areas were treated for severe acute malnutrition in 2025 through the Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition programme.

Balarabe said the results demonstrated the impact that could be achieved when government agencies, communities, development partners, health workers and civil society organisations worked together.

She, however, stressed that sustaining progress would require predictable funding, effective implementation and accountability.

“Good policies can only produce results when they are backed by predictable resources, effective implementation, accountability and measurable outcomes,” she said.

The Deputy Governor said the Kaduna State 2026–2030 Food and Nutrition Policy and Strategic Plan would provide a framework for consolidating existing gains and ensuring that nutrition remained integrated into government planning, budgeting and implementation.

She also pledged continued attention to areas including anaemia prevention, exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding and maternal nutrition.

Balarabe expressed appreciation to the Kaduna State Planning and Budget Commission and Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) for recognising her as a Nutrition Champion.

She said the recognition was not a personal award but a responsibility to deepen advocacy and action on nutrition.

“We receive this recognition with gratitude, and do not receive it as personal trophy. We receive it as a call to service, and as a reminder that leadership is not measured by the titles we carry, but by the lives we touch,” she said.

The Women in Power Conference, organised by the Kaduna State Planning and Budget Commission in collaboration with CS-SUNN, brought together policymakers, women leaders, development partners, civil society organisations and community advocates to discuss ways of strengthening the state’s nutrition agenda.

Stakeholders at the event renewed calls for stronger nutrition financing, improved health service delivery, community engagement and sustained efforts to tackle malnutrition and anaemia in Kaduna State.