***Calls for Urgent Action as 15 Million Children Suffer Stunting, 12 Million Anaemic
Two out of every three Nigerian children are suffering from child food poverty lacking access to diverse and nutritious diets while two out of three infants are not exclusively breastfed, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed.
According to UNICEF Nigeria’s Malnutrition Manager, Sumit Karn, these alarming statistics signal a worsening nutrition crisis threatening the survival, growth, and development of millions of children nationwide.
Speaking at a two-day capacity-building training for media professionals on nutrition and food systems reporting, organized by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) in partnership with Nigeria Health Watch in Abuja, Karn described the situation as “deeply concerning.”
“Nigeria is home to an estimated 38 million children under the age of five with 15 million stunted, 7 million moderately wasted, and 3 million severely wasted. In addition, about 12 million children are anaemic,” he said, adding that the country now ranks number one in Africa and number two globally for the number of malnourished children.
Karn explained that the Average Annual Rate of Reduction (AARR) for stunting is currently 1.4 percentage points per year far below the 10 points required to meet global nutrition benchmarks. Consequently, four out of five Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) nutrition targets remain off track in Nigeria.
He also revealed that 31 million Nigerians across 26 states and the FCT are either hungry or uncertain about their next meal, a crisis worsened by food insecurity, inflation, and poverty.
“This situation demands urgent, coordinated action from all stakeholders,” he warned. “We must strengthen nutrition-sensitive programmes, improve food systems, and promote exclusive breastfeeding to give every Nigerian child a fair start in life.”
UNICEF urged federal and state governments, civil society, and the private sector to scale up investments in nutrition and social protection systems, stressing that ending malnutrition is not just a public health goal but a development imperative that affects education, productivity, and national prosperity.
Speaking earlier, Mr. Victor Ekeleme, Senior Associate, Communications at GAIN, said the organization’s mission is to make healthier diets more affordable, accessible, and desirable for all.
“The stories we tell and how we tell them shape public understanding, influence policy, and mobilize action. That is where you, our partners in the media, play a crucial role,” Ekeleme noted, commending journalists for their continued commitment to advancing nutrition advocacy in Nigeria.
He explained that the training was designed to equip journalists with evidence-based tools and knowledge to produce solution-driven stories that inspire policy change and community action.
Over the two-day workshop, participants engaged with nutrition experts on key issues such as food fortification, policy frameworks, tackling misinformation, and leveraging artificial intelligence tools for impactful storytelling.
Ekeleme urged journalists to use the platform to build stronger advocacy networks that can help accelerate progress toward a healthier, better-nourished Nigeria.
