The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on state governments to scale up domestic investment in nutrition to address rising stunting rates and improve child development outcomes across the South-West region.

The call was made at a one-day regional workshop on the operationalisation of the Integrated Multisectoral Nutrition Intervention and the N-774 Initiative, held in Ibadan. The workshop aimed to strengthen collaboration between UNICEF and South-West states on a coordinated nutrition framework to tackle malnutrition and enhance child survival.

The summit, convened by the Oyo State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in partnership with UNICEF, brought together permanent secretaries, health officials, and other stakeholders from Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo states. It was themed “Integrated Multisectoral Nutrition Programming in South-West States.”

UNICEF Programme Manager, Lagos Field Office, Muhammad Okorie, described nutrition as a critical child rights issue with far-reaching implications for human capital development.

He warned that poor nutrition, particularly within the first 1,000 days of life, can lead to irreversible cognitive damage and reduced productivity later in life.

“Nutrition is one of those very important child rights issues that must be addressed. The consequence of not taking nutrition seriously can deprive a child of vital intellectual capabilities, and unfortunately, these are not reversible,” he said.

Okorie identified stunting as a major concern in the region, noting that it continues to undermine children’s intellectual capacity and long-term development.

He explained that the Federal Government’s N-774 initiative provides a coordinated framework across federal, state, and local governments to improve planning, budgeting, and accountability in nutrition interventions.

He also highlighted the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) as a key financing mechanism that enables states to access matching grants for nutrition commodities. According to him, if a state commits N100 million, UNICEF matches it with N200 million. “This is a low-hanging opportunity that states must take advantage of,” he said.

Okorie disclosed that Oyo State has already benefited from the fund, with resources deployed for the procurement and distribution of nutrition commodities, and urged other states to prioritise annual budgetary allocations to sustain the initiative.

“The funding environment is not guaranteed forever. States must increase domestic investment. The cost of inaction is far greater,” he added.

Chairman of Egbeda Local Government Area and Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) representative in Ogun State, Dr Folasade Adeyemo, said nutrition is central to health, education, and productivity.

“Without proper nutrition, there will be no meaningful development. It is a multi-sectoral issue that must be tackled head-on,” she said.

Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security in Oyo State, Dr Abiodun Babalola, also linked nutrition directly to economic growth and human capital development, stressing the need for sustained collaboration with development partners.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Tunde Ayanleke, represented by Commissioner Seun Ashamu, described the workshop as timely.

He noted that malnutrition, including stunting and micronutrient deficiencies, remains a major development challenge requiring coordinated, multi-sectoral responses.

Ayanleke reiterated the state government’s commitment to sustained investment in nutrition programmes, including the Child Nutrition Fund, while strengthening partnerships to improve outcomes.

He added that the workshop would deepen understanding of the N-774 initiative, enhance coordination across states, and produce actionable roadmaps for improved nutrition financing and implementation.

He urged participants to ensure that deliberations translate into concrete policy actions capable of accelerating progress in tackling malnutrition across the region.