The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has urged state governors, ministers, local government chairmen, and other stakeholders, including the private sector, to take urgent and decisive action against the scourge of malnutrition in the country.

According to him, the consequences of malnutrition go beyond the health sector, forming the root of the challenges that hinder productivity, learning, and national growth.

Senator Shettima made this statement on Thursday while officially launching the Nutrition 774 Initiative at the 148th meeting of the National Economic Council, NEC, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.Beyond mere statistics, the Vice President noted that the alarming figures—indicating that about 40 per cent of Nigerian children under five suffer from stunting, 8 per cent from wasting, and 27 per cent from being underweight—represent real children whose futures are at risk even before they have a chance to begin their life’s journey.

This, he said, is why the Nutrition 774 Initiative marks a turning point, emphasising that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu considers it a national priority in fulfilment of his promise to Nigerians.

The Vice President stated: “By focusing on grassroots impact, we will ensure that mothers and children across all communities have access to critical nutrition support where it matters most.

“This initiative is, therefore, an invitation—an invitation to all stakeholders: our governors, ministers, local government chairmen, development partners, and the private sector—to take action. It is also a pledge to the people of Nigeria that we will not stand by while our children suffer the preventable consequences of malnutrition.

“His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, embraces this initiative not only as the fulfilment of his promise to the nation but also as a national priority—because a well-nourished population is a premium insurance for our future.”