In a decisive step towards eradicating malnutrition and hunger, the Oyo State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has launched a four-year Multi-Sectoral Strategic Plan of Action on Food and Nutrition. The initiative, unveiled on January 11 in Ibadan, aims to enhance nutrition security for children and women across the state.
The State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Misbaudeen Babatunde, represented by the Executive Assistant on Finance, Budget, and Economic Planning, Gafar Bello, officially launched the strategy. Speaking through the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, Babatunde reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to combating malnutrition and ensuring food security at all levels—from households to communities and local governments.
To support this initiative, the Oyo State Government has allocated ₦250 million as its counterpart fund for the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project, a World Bank-backed program launched in March 2020. Additionally, ₦100 million has been committed to the Basic Health Care Provision Fund project, bringing the state’s total financial contribution to ₦350 million towards improving nutrition outcomes.
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Babatunde emphasized that the newly launched plan aligns with Governor Seyi Makinde’s broader development policies, particularly in fostering economic growth, employment generation, and wealth creation, while prioritizing the welfare of women and children. He noted that if fully implemented, the initiative would significantly reduce the state’s malnutrition rate.
The government has also introduced a home-grown 20-year Development Plan, known as Agenda 2040, which integrates insights from both state and non-state actors to ensure long-term socio-economic transformation.
Representing UNICEF, Boluwatife Ogunjimi highlighted that 34.5% of children in Oyo State are stunted due to malnutrition, stressing that poor nutrition is a leading cause of child mortality. She reiterated UNICEF’s commitment to supporting the state in achieving sustainable nutrition security.
Permanent Secretary Tunde Ayanleke assured stakeholders that the action plan would be diligently executed, ensuring that the financial, human, and material resources invested yield tangible results for the people of Oyo State.
This collaborative effort underscores Oyo State’s determination to build a healthier, well-nourished future for its children and vulnerable populations, reinforcing the state’s adherence to the Child Rights Law 2006, which safeguards children’s rights to survival, development, and protection.
