The Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, on Thursday, officially launched the State Food and Nutrition Policy and commissioned a state-of-the-art Nutrition Warehouse with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The launch is in a landmark step towards improving food security and advancing sustainable nutrition.
During the event, Governor Lawal reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to tackling malnutrition and improving child health, announcing a N500 million counterpart fund towards the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF). He also expressed readiness to review a policy proposal to extend maternity leave for working mothers to six months, signaling a progressive move towards maternal and child welfare.
A major highlight of the occasion was the signing of a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Zamfara State Government, the Federal University of Gusau, and UNICEF, aimed at strengthening social workforce and child protection community based structures with capacity to address Violence Against Children at all levels
In the wake of the MoU, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Gusau convened a high-level strategic meeting to discuss a roadmap for implementation. Key outcomes included agreements to: Develop a comprehensive workplan; Establish a robust coordination structure; Draft terms of reference (ToR) for the coordination mechanism; Conduct a social audit of existing social workers; Adapt training manuals for certificate and diploma programmes; andEnsure accreditation of the training courses.
The meeting was attended by top stakeholders including the Commissioner for Women Affairs, the Permanent Secretary for Local Government, and the Deputy Vice Chancellors (DVCs) of the university.
This multi-stakeholder effort marks a significant milestone in Zamfara’s journey toward building a healthier, better-nourished, and socially empowered population.
