President Bola Tinubu has endorsed a new strategy to allocate 20% of palliatives, including food aid, through religious institutions and traditional establishments nationwide.
Vice President Kashim Shettima made this announcement on Tuesday during a high-level nutrition dialogue at the State House in Abuja. The dialogue, themed “Faith leaders as catalysts for enhanced human capital through nutrition,” was organized by the National Council on Nutrition and the World Bank-assisted Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) Project.
Addressing concerns raised by the Imam of Bayero University, Kano, about the exclusion of traditional and religious leaders from palliative distribution, Shettima revealed the President’s approval for 20% of food aid to be routed through religious organizations and traditional institutions. Specifically, Tsangaya schools and mission schools will be targeted for these interventions.
Furthermore, Shettima disclosed that 20% of funds allocated for the School Feeding Programme would be directed through the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to religious bodies. He assured transparency and efficiency in the disbursement process, acknowledging the logistical challenges but expressing confidence in the initiative’s success.
Highlighting the importance of nutrition, Shettima emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to producing nourishing food to safeguard the well-being of its citizens and future generations. He called upon religious and traditional leaders, referring to them as key cultural influencers, to champion the cause of mutual understanding, peace, and social cohesion.
Shettima reiterated President Tinubu’s dedication to prioritizing nutrition as part of Nigeria’s food security agenda. He praised Tinubu’s vision for ensuring access to quality nutrition services, particularly for vulnerable groups like pregnant women, lactating mothers, adolescent girls, and young children.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, and President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Most Rev. Daniel Okoh, pledged their communities’ commitment to combating hunger and malnutrition in Nigeria, underscoring their support for the campaign.
