World Nutrition Day came and went last week, but the urgency it underscored remains. For Nigeria, the fight against malnutrition is not just about policies or statistics—it is about the pregnant women who face death daily because they lack basic nutrition and healthcare. The country’s National Development Plan aims to slash maternal mortality from 512 deaths per 100,000 live births to 300 by 2025, aligning with global goals like the Sustainable Development Goals and the Zero Preventable Maternal Deaths initiative. Yet, behind every number lies a person: a mother, a health worker, a community struggling to survive.
At the heart of this crisis is sustained financing for proven interventions like multiple micronutrient supplements, or MMS. These supplements tackle deficiencies in iron, folate, and other essential nutrients that fuel Nigeria’s high maternal death rate. According to the 2023 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, 512 mothers die per 100,000 live births. For children, the picture is equally grim: Nigeria ranks second globally for stunted children under five, with 32 to 34 percent—roughly 14 million kids—affected, and two million suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
But change is brewing from within. During a recent visit to Kaduna State, I saw firsthand how Nigerian-led coalitions are building solutions. The Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria, or CS-SUNN, an alliance of over 400 groups including media, academics, the Gates Foundation, and government stakeholders, is driving reforms. Through its Partnership for Improving Nigeria Nutrition Systems project in five states, CS-SUNN has revived 24 inactive State Committees on Food and Nutrition, improving coordination across agencies. In Kaduna, the results are tangible. At the Ungwan Boro health center, Officer-in-Charge Martha Obiagwu told me women are returning. They see neighbors benefiting from MMS and come seeking it, even from private clinics. During Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week, demand spikes.
The funding picture is shifting too. Ramatu Musa Haruna, Kaduna’s Nutrition Officer, said all local government chairmen have pledged 20 million naira each for the Child Nutrition Fund, plus a 500 million naira commitment from the governor. These funds will sustain MMS procurement. Nationally, health allocations have risen: 170.01 billion naira in 2025, a 33.7 percent jump from 2024 and a leap from 10.8 billion naira in 2021. Yet allocations alone don’t save lives. The challenge is turning budget promises into actual releases and implementation. In many states, funding for MMS remains insufficient or uncertain, leaving pregnant women without support.
Northern Nigeria records some of the highest anaemia rates in pregnancy, driven by iron deficiency, poverty, and insecurity. Rebuilding trust in primary healthcare is key. The 2023 NDHS shows 58 percent of women of reproductive age are anaemic, with rates hitting 71.1 percent in the South-East. Global evidence suggests every dollar invested in nutrition yields 16 to 27 dollars in returns through better health and productivity. But gains are fragile. Without sustained financing and accountability, they can be reversed.
The question is no longer whether Nigeria knows what works. The evidence is clear. It is whether proven interventions like MMS will get the sustained funding to reach every woman who needs them. Kaduna shows progress is possible. The challenge now is making that the norm, not the exception. Sustained financing for nutrition must be a standing agenda item at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and across decision-making platforms. Behind every statistic is a woman fighting to survive childbirth and a child struggling for a healthy start. The time for action is now.
