Abuja, June 1, 2026 — Nutrition and health stakeholders have urged widespread adoption and proper implementation of the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) as part of efforts to reduce anaemia and malnutrition among women and children across Nigeria.
The appeal was made during a media roundtable in Abuja themed “Child Nutrition Fund (CNF): A Strategic Pathway for Preventing Anaemia and Scaling Access to Life-Saving Nutrition Commodities in Nigeria.” The meeting was organised by the Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) in collaboration with development partners and government agencies to promote sustainable nutrition financing.
The Executive Secretary of CS-SUNN, Sunday Okoronkwo, described the CNF as a financing framework aimed at improving access to essential nutrition supplies for vulnerable groups.
He noted that Nigeria continues to face a heavy burden of malnutrition, with anaemia remaining one of the most prevalent public health challenges affecting women of reproductive age and young children.
Citing the 2023 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, Okoronkwo said about 67 per cent of children aged six to 59 months are anaemic, while 57 per cent of women between 15 and 49 years also suffer from the condition.
He warned that anaemia contributes significantly to maternal deaths, low birth weight, impaired cognitive development in children and reduced productivity.
According to him, Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate remains alarmingly high, with micronutrient deficiencies among pregnant women identified as a contributing factor.
Okoronkwo explained that the CNF operates as a co-financing arrangement between federal and state governments to support the procurement of key nutrition commodities, including Multiple Micronutrient Supplements, Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods, Vitamin A supplements and other essential products.
He noted that Multiple Micronutrient Supplements, which contain 15 vital vitamins and minerals, have proven effective in preventing anaemia and improving pregnancy outcomes.
The CS-SUNN official commended the Federal Government and 20 states that have collectively released about N7.1 billion between 2023 and 2026 to support nutrition programmes.
He said these investments have improved access to nutrition services and expanded treatment coverage for women and children in participating states.
However, he expressed concern that several states are yet to fully adopt or release counterpart funding, limiting the reach of the programme.
He urged state governments to prioritise nutrition in their budgets and strengthen the distribution of supplements for pregnant women, while also calling on the media to sustain advocacy on the issue.
Also speaking, the Director of Nutrition at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Olufunmilola Adegbite, described anaemia as a major public health challenge with far-reaching consequences for national development.
She said the CNF offers a structured approach to ensuring the availability of essential nutrition commodities such as iron-folic acid supplements and therapeutic foods.
Adegbite stressed the need for stronger accountability systems, timely funding releases and better coordination among stakeholders to enhance results.
In a related contribution, the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning highlighted the importance of sustained investment in nutrition programmes, noting that improved funding is key to addressing malnutrition.
Representatives at the event encouraged continued collaboration among stakeholders to reduce nutrition-related health challenges and improve outcomes for mothers and children.
UNICEF’s Chief of Nutrition, Nemat Hajeebhoy, described nutrition as a fundamental right and a critical driver of development, urging increased investment to accelerate progress in tackling anaemia and malnutrition.
Similarly, representatives of Nigeria Health Watch called for stronger political commitment and improved domestic funding, while also emphasising the media’s role in raising awareness.
Participants from several states, including Kaduna, Kano, Bayelsa and Kwara, also called for full adoption of the Child Nutrition Fund and improved efficiency in the use of resources to strengthen maternal and child health outcomes.
The roundtable ended with a renewed call for governments at all levels to close financing gaps and accelerate action against anaemia and malnutrition nationwide.