In a major stride towards improved nutrition governance and community health outcomes, the Abia State Government has officially inaugurated its State Nutrition Council under the umbrella of the N‑774 National Nutrition Initiative.
This significant move reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to decentralizing nutrition efforts and empowering states to take ownership of localized nutrition strategies. The inauguration follows technical guidance provided by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with the National Council on Nutrition.
The State Nutrition Council serves as a high-level advisory and coordinating body, bringing together key stakeholders from across sectors — including representatives from:
The Abia State Ministry of Health
Local Government nutrition focal persons
Civil Society Organizations
Development partners
Academia and nutrition experts
Their collective mission is to strengthen policy alignment, promote evidence-based interventions, and ensure consistent implementation of nutrition-sensitive programs across the state’s 17 LGAs.
The council is also expected to monitor progress on the N‑774 objectives, support the rollout of LG-level nutrition activities, and champion budgetary prioritization of nutrition services.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, state officials commended the Federal Government’s vision and reaffirmed Abia’s readiness to scale up multi-sectoral collaboration in the fight against malnutrition.
“This Council will ensure that nutrition is mainstreamed into development planning at every level of our state. Abia is ready to lead by example,” said a representative from the State Ministry of Budget and Planning.
The event underscores the growing momentum of the N‑774 Initiative and sets a precedent for other states to follow in institutionalizing nutrition leadership and strengthening grassroots engagement.
