Alausa Urges Schools to Lead Fight Against Child Malnutrition

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has urged schools to play a leading role in Nigeria’s fight against child malnutrition.

Alausa identified school feeding, school health and nutrition education as key interventions under the Nutrition 774 Initiative.

He made the call on Wednesday at the Ethiopia-Nigeria Leadership Exchange on Moving the Needle on Nutrition in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Speaking during a session on building a multi-sectoral framework, the minister called for stronger cooperation among government ministries and the three tiers of government.

He said the fight against malnutrition requires joint action across education, health, agriculture and planning. According to him, clear responsibilities, adequate funding and effective monitoring remain essential.

Alausa described the Nutrition 774 Initiative as an opportunity to take national nutrition priorities to Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.

He noted that children’s nutrition, health, learning and development remain closely linked. Therefore, he said, the education sector must form a central part of efforts to address malnutrition.

The minister identified school feeding as one of the most practical ways schools can improve children’s nutrition. He added that regular meals at school could also encourage attendance and help children remain in education.

Alausa also pointed to the integration of nutrition-related subjects into Nigeria’s revised school curriculum.

He said the approach would give children greater knowledge of healthy eating, wellbeing and healthy lifestyles. Such knowledge, he noted, could influence healthier choices beyond the classroom.

The Federal Ministry of Education has proposed school feeding, school health and nutrition education as part of its contribution to the Nutrition 774 Initiative.

The ministry also plans to support measures that improve access to quality education and school participation. These interventions are expected to feature in local government plans for food and nutrition.

Education indicators are also proposed for inclusion in the Nutrition 774 local government scorecard. The move is expected to strengthen accountability and track the sector’s contribution to nutrition outcomes.

Alausa stressed that keeping children in school offers benefits beyond academic learning. He said supportive school environments can contribute to better health, nutrition and overall development.

The minister said the education sector’s proposals align with the National Policy on Food and Nutrition.

The policy targets an increase in school-feeding coverage from 33 per cent to 60 per cent of primary school children by 2035.

Alausa also called for greater attention to early childhood care and development beyond the first 1,000 days of life.

He noted that children continue to have important nutritional, health and developmental needs after the first 1,000 days. He therefore urged sustained support throughout the wider period of early growth.

The minister further identified reliable and integrated data as crucial to effective nutrition planning.

He said stronger integration of government data would help identify vulnerable children and communities. It would also enable authorities to plan better and determine whether interventions reach their intended beneficiaries.

Alausa stressed that national nutrition policies must translate into effective action at state and local government levels.

He called for clear targets and appropriate monitoring systems to ensure that programmes deliver measurable results.

The minister also welcomed the opportunity to learn from Ethiopia’s experience in coordinating nutrition interventions and mobilising domestic resources.

He said Nigerian officials would examine relevant lessons from the exchange while adapting them to the country’s own needs and circumstances.

Alausa maintained that sustained progress against malnutrition would require effective collaboration, adequate financing and stronger implementation across sectors.

He reaffirmed the Education Ministry’s commitment to working with relevant ministries, state governments, local government authorities and development partners.

The minister also said the ministry would continue to align its programmes with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on human capital development.

Alausa stressed that improving children’s nutrition alongside access to quality education would help build a healthier and more productive population.

He said stronger school feeding, nutrition education, school health services and multisectoral cooperation would contribute to improved child wellbeing.

The minister reiterated that education must remain an integral part of Nigeria’s response to malnutrition.

He said the goal was to ensure that every Nigerian child has the opportunity to learn, grow, remain healthy and fulfil their potential.