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FAO, Borno partner to tackle malnutrition

By Joke Falaju, Abuja
06 February 2025   |   3:59 pm
Borno State Government in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO)
A child suffering from severe malnutrition

Borno State Government in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has committed to scale up the production of Tom Brown to tackle malnutrition in the Northeast.

The high-level meeting held at the UN House in Abuja had representatives of federal ministries, departments and agencies, Borno State Government, donors, UN agencies, and other stakeholders in attendance.

The meeting follows the recent report that indicates that 25 million Nigerians are currently experiencing food insecurity, a situation projected to worsen during the upcoming lean season, between June and August 2025, to 33.1 million across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The Northeast Nutrition Sector Coordinator, John Mukisa, said it is concerning that over 3.7 million children in northeastern Nigeria are stunted, wasted, or anaemic.

He stressed that investments in low-cost, innovative, and locally sourced solutions such as Tom Brown could save the Borno Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states USD120 million annually.

Borno State commissioner of health and human services, Prof. Baba Mallam Gana, said, “Tom Brown has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in addressing malnutrition, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children under five and lactating mothers.”

FAO Representative ad interim, Koffy Dominique Kouacou, stated that “scaling up Tom Brown will not only meet urgent nutritional needs but also create livelihood opportunities, strengthen local markets, and generate revenue for regional development.

“To bring this vision to life, we need partnership, expertise, and resources. Beyond figures and policies, we must remember the human faces behind the statistics—the children whose lives we can save, the families we can uplift, and the communities we can transform.”

Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum noted that production and commercialisation of Tom Brown will attract investment from the private sector, boosting the state revenue and positioning Borno as a leader in nutrition-sensitive agriculture.

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