Breastfeeding remains one of the most vital and cost-effective interventions for infant survival, providing essential nutrition and immunity during a child’s formative months. However, in Nigeria, many mothers face significant challenges in exclusively breastfeeding their babies for the recommended six months and continuing through complementary feeding until age two — as recommended by global health experts.
The global observance of World Breastfeeding Week (WBW), held annually from August 1 to 7, draws attention to the need for stronger support systems for breastfeeding. This year’s theme, “Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems,” emphasizes the crucial role that breast milk plays in promoting child survival, growth, and development.
Despite high overall breastfeeding rates in Nigeria — with over 90% of mothers initiating breastfeeding — UNICEF reports that exclusive breastfeeding rates have stalled at just 29%, and early initiation has dropped from 42% in 2018 to 36% in 2023. Additionally, only 23% of Nigerian children are breastfed until the age of two, and just 12 out of the 36 states (plus the Federal Capital Territory) currently provide six months of paid maternity leave.
UNICEF has urged that for progress to be made, mothers must receive consistent and meaningful support — at home, in workplaces, and within health facilities. Their recommendations include starting breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, maintaining exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and continuing breastfeeding alongside complementary feeding up to two years or beyond.
A Mother’s Experience
Folasade Adediran, a teacher and mother of three, shared her personal journey, calling breastfeeding both rewarding and demanding. She noted that societal encouragement and education during antenatal care helped her embrace exclusive breastfeeding. Her first child, she said, showed rapid developmental milestones, which she attributed to exclusive breastfeeding.
However, balancing her career and breastfeeding duties has been a struggle. “As a teacher, you can’t leave your class, yet your baby needs you,” she explained. She often expresses milk in advance, but it rarely lasts the entire day. She called for extended maternity leave, saying six months would significantly ease the burden for working mothers.
Expert Insight on Breastfeeding Benefits
Nutrition expert, Uju Onuorah, highlighted the immense value of exclusive breastfeeding, particularly in the early months. The first milk, colostrum, is rich in antibodies that help shield newborns from infections like pneumonia and diarrhea. She emphasized that breast milk naturally adapts to a child’s changing nutritional needs and contributes to long-term protection against obesity, type 2 diabetes, and allergies. Mothers also benefit, with lower risks of breast and ovarian cancers, cardiovascular disease, and faster recovery after childbirth.
Onuorah stressed that cultural myths, limited workplace policies, and societal pressure to introduce water or herbal supplements too early are major obstacles. She advocated for breastfeeding-friendly environments, including crèches, supportive workplace policies, and family engagement.
Voices from Across Nigeria
The Health Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HEWAN) has urged stakeholders — from government leaders to community organizations — to recognize breastfeeding as a public health necessity, not just a personal decision. It is, they argued, a proven intervention that saves lives and supports national development.
Prof. Mark Okeji, Registrar of the Radiographers Registration Board, echoed this view, stating that family support rooted in love and understanding plays a central role in successful breastfeeding practices.
Terkimbi Ikyange, Benue State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Creativity, criticized the current three-month maternity leave policy as inadequate, reinforcing calls for a nationwide standard of six-month paid leave.
Responding to this concern, the Nigerian Governors’ Wives Forum, chaired by Prof. Olufolake Abdulrazaq (First Lady of Kwara State), has pledged to advocate for six-month maternity leave across all states. The Forum promised to work closely with state governments and legislators to enact more family-friendly policies.
In Kaduna State, Health Commissioner Umma Kaltum-Ahmed shared that the government had launched crèches in key public institutions to enable working mothers to balance career demands with childcare responsibilities.
Federal Government’s Commitment
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, reaffirmed the federal government’s dedication to advancing breastfeeding practices. He emphasized that breastfeeding must be seen not just as a maternal duty, but as a shared societal responsibility, vital to public health, national development, and even climate resilience.
Pate cited several interventions, including the training of health workers, implementation of baby-friendly hospital initiatives, and the provision of 112 days paid maternity leave for federal civil servants. Additionally, mothers are entitled to two-hour daily breastfeeding breaks, and fathers receive 14 days of paternity leave. He also highlighted NAFDAC’s role in enforcing the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes to curb aggressive formula advertising.
“Getting breastfeeding right is foundational,” he said. “It contributes to ending malnutrition, reducing poverty, improving public health, and securing Nigeria’s future.”
Conclusion
Experts and advocates agree: breastfeeding is more than a maternal choice — it’s a national imperative. To ensure a healthier generation and stronger society, Nigeria must prioritize policies and practices that empower women to breastfeed successfully, especially in the first critical years of a child’s life.