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KDSG reviews policy on food, nutrition
HarvestPlus Nigeria, an initiative, has supported the Kaduna State Government (KDSG) in reviewing its policy on food and nutrition.
It works with partners to tackle hidden hunger on a global scale by breeding vitamins and minerals into everyday food crops.
The two-day review was organised by the State Planning and Budget Commission (PBC), where the state’s committee on food and nutrition is domiciled, in collaboration with HarvestPlus.
The Country Manager of HarvestPlus, Dr Yusuf Dollah, stated that with a focus on enhancing production standards, saying that iw was poised to elevate the quality and efficacy of its bio-fortified crops.
He underscored HarvestPlus’s decade-long dedication to developing bio-fortified crops tailored to address the nutritional needs of vulnerable populations.
Dollah added that crops meticulously bred to contain essential micro-nutrients and vitamins, offered a sustainable solution to combating malnutrition and promoting healthy growth.
He, therefore, stressed that reviewing the state Policy on Food and Nutrition was important to HarvestPlus so as to ensure their bio-fortification efforts align with national policies and priorities.
He equally said it would inform their policy decisions that can scale up biofortification impact on addressing hidden hunger.
“It will help us align with the state policy on food and nutrition, so as to maximize our impact and contribute to a more comprehensive approach to addressing malnutrition and improving public health,”he added.
Earlier in an opening remark, the Commissioner of commission, Mr Mukthar Ahmed, thanked HarvestPlus for itr unwavering dedication in championing the cause of nutrition and sustainable agriculture in the region and Kaduna in specific.
Ahmed was represented by the Director, Development Aid Coordination of the PBC, Hajiya Aisha Muhammad.
He said that through robust discussions, knowledge
sharing, and collective brainstorming, it would pave the way for innovative solutions that will drive positive change and foster sustainable development in the state.
“I am confident that this workshop will serve as a platform for constructive dialogue, meaningful exchange of ideas, and the forging of partnership that will propel us towards
our shared goal of a healthier, more nourished future for all,”he said.
Also, the Permanent Secretary, Kaduna State Ministry of Health, Dr Aisha Abubakar, said living things need nutrition to survive.
She mentioned some of the challenges that deprive individuals and communities of optimal nutrition.
They include government policies, climate change, inadequate food fortification and supplementation practices, poverty and food insecurity, among others.
Abubakar, therefore, said eating small in the right diet will go a long way, adding that addressing the challenges is crucial to ensure that individuals and communities can achieve optimal nutrition and overall well-being.
In a goodwill message, the State Coordinator for Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), Ms Jessica Bartholomew, said the engagement would enhance multi sectoral plans.
She said the current economic status has affected nutrition status in Kaduna State, where the review of the policy on food and nutrition was a critical step towards addressing it.
Also, Sarah Kwasu of Alive and Thrive, and Malam Sani Hassan of Nutrition Society of Nigeria, said a lot of things have changed, which made the review critical.
The duo commended the government for initiating the review of the State Policy on Food and Nutrition.
They added that the milestone demonstrated its commitment to addressing malnutrition and ensuring a healthier future for its citizens.
They acknowledged the progress made so far and reaffirmed their support to the government in achieving its nutrition goals.
Speaking to newsmen at the sideline of the last day of the review on Thursday, Mr Cyril Inegbedion, said biofortified crops which HarvestPlus wass into was key in the fight against hidden hunger and malnutrition which is prevalent in Northern Nigeria.
Inegbedion is the Project Team Lead for the FCDO funded scaling climate adapted and nutritious smart crops through market systems in Northern Nigeria project in HarvestPlus.
He added that for the particular crops to gain prominence, an enabling environment is critical where they needed the government’s buy-in so as to infuse into its policies, the adoption, production and consumption of biofortified crops.
Speaking to newsmen on the rationale for reviewing the policy, Dr Zainab Muhammad-Idris, the facilitator, said it was to align the policy with current nutrition priorities and evidence-based practices.
She explained that the policy, which was produced in 2017 and expected to last to 2025, was deemed necessary to begin its review process so as to capture new issues and the relevance of what was previously captured in the document.
Muhammad-Idris, who doubles as the Project Coordinator of Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project, added that it was to strengthen policy provisions to address malnutrition in all its forms.
“It also enhances coordination and collaboration among stakeholders; improves policy implementation and monitoring and increases investment in nutrition-sensitive interventions,”she said.
She said the expected outcomes from the review would include an updated policy that reflects current nutrition priorities and evidence; improved policy coherence and coordination across sectors and enhanced stakeholder engagement and commitment.
The facilitator equally said it would strengthen capacity for policy implementation/ monitoring and improve nutrition outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations.
“The review is expected to result in a robust and effective policy that addresses the nutrition needs of the population, particularly vulnerable groups, and contributes to the achievement of national and global nutrition goals,”she said
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that present at the review were representatives from various MDAs and development partners in the state.(NAN
The Anambra Government has imposed a one-month sanction on Blossom Fount School, Awka, for allegedly selling the position of head prefect during a student election.
This was disclosed in a statement on Saturday by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh.
According to the commissioner, the school reportedly demanded N5,000 from each pupil aspiring to become head prefect in the primary section.
Chuma-Udeh condemned the act, describing it as an attempt to “sell the psyche of the children to the highest bidder from the cradle.”
According to her, such practices are unacceptable under the administration of Gov. Chukwuma Soludo.
She said that an investigation was ongoing to examine the school’s broader management practices, with the possibility of further actions based on the findings.
Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the arrest and continued detention of former House of Representatives member, Muhammad Kazaure, describing it as a violation of due process.
In a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, Atiku said Kazaure’s detention reflects a brazen disregard for the rule of law, accusing the anti-graft agency of operating beyond the limits of the Nigerian Constitution.
Atiku alleged that the EFCC is increasingly becoming a tool for political repression, citing what he called a troubling pattern of lawlessness under the current administration.
He said, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has once again plunged headlong into its well-worn pattern of lawlessness, arresting and detaining citizens with brazen disregard for due process and without offering any justification for its actions.”
Atiku also referenced the recent arrest of social commentator Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, whose release followed intense public pressure. He suggested that Kazaure’s case fits into a broader trend of state institutions being used to silence dissenting voices.
“We witnessed this same abuse in the unlawful arrest and detention of Mr. Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, whose release was only secured after massive public outrage and pressure.
“Now, the EFCC has targeted Hon. Muhammad Kazaure, a former member of the House of Representatives and an unapologetic critic of the gross misgovernance and failings of the Tinubu administration.
“Abducted in Kano and whisked away to Abuja, Kazaure is presently being held incommunicado, with no formal charge or explanation offered to his family, legal team, or the Nigerian people.
“Let it be stated without equivocation: even if there were legitimate grounds for arresting any citizen, such action must adhere strictly to the rule of law. The EFCC is duty-bound to publicly disclose the reasons for any arrest and must not detain individuals indefinitely under the guise of investigation.
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is unequivocal on this matter—every detainee must be promptly charged to court or released. By once again trampling on the fundamental rights of a Nigerian citizen, the EFCC is entrenching itself deeper into the mire of impunity and constitutional delinquency.
“It’s deafening silence regarding the arrest of Hon. Kazaure, a man who represented the good people of Kazaure, Roni, Gwiwa, and Yankwashi federal constituency, lays bare the agency’s contempt for transparency and justice.
Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has ignited social media buzz after posting a 15-second TikTok video set to the trending song Omo Ologo — a track closely linked with President Bola Tinubu.
The video, shared on her TikTok page on May 8, shows the embattled lawmaker smiling and playfully interacting with the camera. Captioned, “Just for fun, song choked,” the post has drawn mixed reactions online, with some interpreting it as a light-hearted moment, while others suspect a deeper political undertone.
The video comes just days after the song Omo Ologo was performed live by Kano-based singer Dauda Kahutu Rarara during a dinner in Katsina State held in honour of President Tinubu, who was on a two-day working visit to assess security in the region.
The song, which blends Hausa and Yoruba, praises Tinubu as a victorious leader who has outlasted his critics.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s TikTok post follows a series of dramatic exchanges between her and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The senator was suspended from the upper legislative chamber in March after accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment — an allegation that triggered heated debate in the National Assembly.
In what appeared to be a bold response to her suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan recently posted a sarcastic apology video to Akpabio on Facebook, in which she claimed she was sorry “for the crime of maintaining dignity and self-respect.”
The post was accompanied by a short video, further fueling controversy.
Akpabio’s legal team has since approached a federal high court in Abuja, seeking an order compelling the senator to delete the post from her social media pages.
In a counter-affidavit filed by her lawyer, Jubril Okutepa (SAN), Akpoti-Uduaghan’s camp described the motion as an attempt to silence and intimidate her.
The court is expected to rule on the matter on May 12.