A new report by UNICEF highlights significant gaps in exclusive breastfeeding practices across Nigeria, with just one in three infants receiving only breast milk for the critical first six months of life. The findings were shared during a virtual press briefing in Owerri by Juliet Chiluwe, UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in Enugu, as part of World Breastfeeding Week, observed annually from August 1 to 7. The 2025 edition of the global awareness campaign will focus on the theme “Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems,” emphasizing the need for structural reforms to enable nursing mothers.
While exclusive breastfeeding rates remain low, Chiluwe noted that over 90% of Nigerian women initiate breastfeeding, reflecting widespread cultural acceptance of the practice. She praised ten states—Lagos, Kwara, Ekiti, Oyo, Cross River, Kaduna, Niger, Ondo, Enugu, and Plateau—for extending paid maternity leave to six months for public sector employees, a policy she linked to improved childcare outcomes. “Breast milk is irreplaceable in a child’s first six months,” she stressed, urging broader collaboration among governments, employers, and communities to support lactating mothers.
The UNICEF official emphasized the necessity of workplace breastfeeding corners as a “dignified solution” for employed mothers, adding that with adequate time and infrastructure, even working women can sustain breastfeeding. Her comments align with global health guidelines, which recommend exclusive breastfeeding for infants to reduce risks of malnutrition, infections, and chronic diseases.
Dr. Hillary Ozor, UNICEF’s Social Behavioral Change Specialist, echoed the call for systemic reforms, urging media and stakeholders to amplify advocacy efforts. “The media must lead in making breastfeeding a societal priority,” she said, framing the practice as both a public health imperative and a personal commitment. “Choosing to exclusively breastfeed is among the clearest acts of care a parent can offer.”
Despite progress, advocates argue that Nigeria’s policies lag behind global standards, with most states yet to adopt extended maternity protections. The push for workplace accommodations and extended leave aims to address barriers such as economic pressures and limited social support, which often force mothers to return to jobs prematurely.
World Breastfeeding Week, established in 1992, continues to spotlight disparities in maternal-child health infrastructure worldwide. In Nigeria, where child mortality remains a concern, experts stress that scaling up breastfeeding initiatives could prevent over 100,000 annual deaths linked to inadequate nutrition. The UNICEF report underscores the urgency of translating awareness into tangible support systems, ensuring every child benefits from what Ozor termed “nature’s first vaccine.”
