The Nigeria Governors' Forum says it will establish a National Nutrition Intervention Fund to support the Nutrition 774 Initiative in all 774 local government areas. Governors have pledged greater domestic financing and accountability for nutrition programs.
Who Controls the Funding
Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal announced the proposed fund in Ethiopia as he read the NGF-Addis Ababa Commitment on Nutrition. He said governors of the federation's 36 states had resolved to “declare war on hunger” by launching a nationwide nutrition emergency.
“This massive mobilisation will establish a powerful National Nutrition Intervention Fund to instantly advance Nigeria's ambitious Nutrition 774 Initiative across every single local government area in Nigeria,” Lawal said. The fund, he said, would incentivise state-level leadership, encourage increased domestic investment, reward effective implementation and support measurable improvements in nutrition outcomes.
The commitment followed a three-day Nigeria-Ethiopia Nutrition Leadership Exchange. A Nigerian delegation led by Vice President Kashim Shettima studied Ethiopia's experience in nutrition delivery, particularly its Seqota Declaration. Lawal described the effort as “From lessons to commitment: Accelerating Implementation of the Nutrition 774 Initiative.”
Governors pledged to strengthen domestic financing, deepen accountability at the grassroots and institutionalise a unified framework for nutrition planning and budgeting, Lawal said. The exchange reinforced the importance of sustained political leadership, multisectoral coordination and ownership at all levels of government.
Government Plans and Responsibilities
The three tiers of government signed the Nutrition Compact on 20 February 2025, establishing a common commitment to tackle malnutrition. The NGF chairman signed for the 36 states, while the President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) signed for the 774 local governments.
Muyi Aina, Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), said the federal government would begin targeted nutrition interventions in two states. The federal team will select states based on their stunting burden, set objectives and develop multisectoral interventions tailored to their needs, Aina said.
Relevant ministers and federal agencies will work with governors and their teams to identify sectoral priorities and determine each tier of government's responsibilities, Aina said. Officials will cost the plan, participating governments will work toward a joint financing arrangement, and measurable indicators will track progress.
“We will track very rigorously progress in the execution of the plan,” Aina said. The delegation learned from Ethiopia's agricultural transformation, early childhood development programs and data-driven initiatives. Aina identified clear vision and leadership, alignment across the three tiers of government, evidence-based prioritisation, rigorous measurement and disciplined execution as essential to sustainable results.
Commitments and Implementation
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Muhammad Pate said the exchange offered lessons on turning political commitments into practical action and measurable nutrition outcomes. He identified focused sectoral action, an implementation roadmap, performance matrices and accountability as critical to accelerating Nigeria's response to malnutrition.
The federal government will work with states to turn the exchange commitments into practical interventions, Pate said. Progress will go to the vice president through the National Council on Nutrition. Federal and state governments, communities and development partners will all be needed to achieve sustainable results, he said.
Nigeria's Nutrition 774 Initiative already embodied many of Ethiopia's principles, Lawal said, while the exchange offered practical lessons to strengthen the program and deliver measurable results. “This leadership exchange has, however, provided important practical lessons on how these principles can be further strengthened and translated into results,” he said.
Ethiopia's Minister of Health, Mekdes Daba, commended Nigeria's commitment to strengthening nutrition delivery. She described the exchange as a practical example of African countries learning from one another and said the Nutrition 774 Initiative represented a significant national commitment.