UN appoints AfDB’s Adesina, Muhtar, Nwuneli into group against malnutrition

President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has accepted his appointment by the United Nations (UN) in the fight against malnutrition.

UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, at the weekend picked Adesina and 21 other leaders to spearhead the fight against malnutrition in all its forms as members of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement Lead Group.

Appointed alongside Adesina were two other Nigerians, Vice President of the Islamic Development Bank, Mansur Muhtar, and Executive Chair, Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition, Ndidi Nwuneli.

Reacting, Adesina tweeted: “I am greatly honoured by United Nations Secretary-General @antonioguterres appointing me among Global Leaders to tackle global malnutrition. Thank you, SG. I look forward to helping to deliver on this agenda.”

Initiated in 2010 by the former Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, the SUN Movement continues its drive to improve nutrition for all people, everywhere, with the stewardship of 22 appointed global leaders who are committed to fighting malnutrition in all its forms as members of the SUN Movement Lead Group.

With the latest appointment, these prominent figures are committed to championing nutrition and steering the SUN Movement and its mission to eradicate malnutrition in all its forms by 2030.

Some three billion people, almost half of all humanity, cannot afford a healthy diet. And two-thirds of children lack the diverse diets they need to thrive.

“Without good nutrition, there is no human development. Every child needs to have access to nutritious and safe foods so they can grow and develop to their full potential. Unfortunately, today more than 1 in 10 people in the world are severely food and nutrition insecure.

“I believe that the approach of the SUN Movement to tackle malnutrition through a country-owned multi-sectoral and multistakeholder approach is more crucial than ever before.

“These global leaders are championing country-led efforts to scale up nutrition and to deliver for girls, boys and their families a world free from malnutrition by 2030,” Guterres said in a statement.

Members of the SUN Movement Lead Group include representatives from the membership of the SUN Movement. This includes 65 countries, four Indian states, more than 4,000 civil society organisations, more than 1,400 businesses, 16 United Nations agencies, international finance institutions and donor governments and philanthropies funding nutrition.

The Movement is dedicated to nutrition action and collaboration including helping countries to implement policies and legislation toward a systemic approach that provides every child, adolescent, mother and family access to a nutritious diet.

It promotes a holistic approach, where actors join forces for nutrition advocacy, investment and coordinated action at the country level, through national ownership and leadership.