Malnutrition Denying 40% of Nigerian Children Their Full Potential — Shettima

 Vice President Kashim Shettima raised a stark warning on July 9, 2025, stating that malnutrition is depriving approximately 40% of Nigerian children under five of their full physical and cognitive potential, during a speech at a nutrition summit in Abuja. 

The disclosure, backed by data from the National Bureau of Statistics, highlights a crisis affecting over 12 million children, with stunting rates at 32% and wasting at 7%, according to the 2024 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey. Shettima called for urgent action to address this public health emergency.

The vice president outlined the government’s Pulaku Solution initiative, a community-based program aimed at improving food security and healthcare access in northern Nigeria, where malnutrition is most severe. He emphasized the link between nutritional deficiencies and poor educational outcomes, noting that malnourished children are less likely to complete primary school. 

The summit, attended by 300 stakeholders including UNICEF representatives, saw commitments for $50 million in international aid, though funding gaps remain. Critics argue the government’s response is slow, with rural healthcare infrastructure lagging. Shettima pledged a national nutrition policy by year-end, but implementation challenges persist amid economic constraints.