From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development–assisted Value Chain Development Programme (IFAD-VCDP) have hosted a Nutrition Policy Dialogue aimed at improving nutrition outcomes in Kogi State. The event was held on Friday in Lokoja and brought together key stakeholders from government, development partners, and farming communities.The dialogue focused on promoting balanced diets, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and household-level interventions to address malnutrition, particularly among vulnerable populations. It also served as a platform to showcase agricultural products developed under the VCDP initiative.
Speaking at the event, the Kogi State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Timothy Ojomah, stressed the importance of good nutrition through balanced diets. He commended the IFAD-VCDP for its positive impact on farmers’ livelihoods across the state.Ojomah, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Moses Dare Joseph, described the dialogue as a timely and welcome development. He noted that the accompanying product exhibition would have a multiplier effect by promoting healthy eating, job creation, and self-reliance among residents.The State Project Coordinator of IFAD-VCDP, Dr. Stella Adejoh, highlighted the programme’s role in building the capacity of farmers, especially women in rural communities. She said the initiative has empowered women with skills in home gardening and provided practical information to improve household nutrition.“
We have empowered women with skills in home gardening and equipped them with knowledge to improve dietary content at the household level,” Dr. Adejoh said. She added that the programme has been operational in Kogi State since 2020.According to her, IFAD-VCDP interventions currently cover five local government areas: Lokoja, Ajaokuta, Ibaji, Kabba-Bunu, and Olamaboro. She disclosed that the dialogue brought together representatives of government ministries and agencies, non-state actors, and 80 women farmers drawn from the five LGAs.
Dr. Adejoh emphasized the need for collaboration and peer-to-peer learning, encouraging participants to train others in their communities and promote home gardening as a sustainable pathway to balanced diets.Delivering a lecture at the event, the Executive Director of Affordable Nutrition Consulting Firm, Mr. John Tsebam, spoke on Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture and its implications for public health. He stressed the need for stronger government support for nutrition programmes and technical backing for health workers.
Mr. Tsebam also called for routine nutrition screening at health centres, noting that nutrition-sensitive agriculture plays a critical role in reducing malnutrition and improving the well-being of vulnerable groups.In their separate remarks, the Managing Director of Kogi State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), Dr. Bello Ogirima, underscored the importance of good nutrition for healthy living and increased productivity. The Chairman of the State Nutrition Committee, Mr. Abubakar Musa, commended women farmers for their commitment and urged households to budget consciously for balanced diets.
Other speakers, including the Director of Nutrition in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Funmilayo Eseyin, and the State Nutrition Officer from the Ministry of Health, Alhaji Abdulateef Yusuf, advocated for home gardens and a multi-sectoral approach to tackling nutrition challenges.The event featured a product exhibition showcasing value-added products from VCDP-supported farmers, including cassava peanut, cassava chinchin, cassava flakes, and Tom Brown, highlighting the link between agriculture, value addition, and improved nutrition.
