In February 2025, during Nigeria’s 148th National Economic Council (NEC) meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Nutrition 774 (N‑774) Initiative was officially launched by Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, in his capacity as Chairman of the National Council on Nutrition.
The launch represents a bold, community-driven approach to tackle malnutrition across all 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs), emphasizing the pivotal role of local governance, multi-sectoral collaboration, and evidence-based planning in achieving sustainable nutrition outcomes.
Vice President Shettima stressed that malnutrition is more than a health challenge—it is a barrier to national productivity, educational outcomes, and future economic potential. With nearly 40% of children under five stunted, 8% wasting, and 27% underweight, the initiative is a decisive, nationwide commitment to end malnutrition.
“Nutrition is not a side issue. It is central to the health, learning, and productivity of our people. Every community must be empowered to act, and every child deserves the chance to thrive,” the Vice President emphasized.
As the first-ever government-led, community-driven nutrition program, N‑774 adopts a multi-sectoral approach to ensure that maternal and child nutrition interventions reach every Nigerian community, regardless of location. Its core objectives include:
Decentralized Coordination – Empowering LGAs to lead local nutrition interventions.
Data Accountability – Building robust systems to track outcomes and ensure transparency.
Sustainable Financing – Securing resources at state and local levels to maintain continuity.
Nutrition Prioritization – Elevating nutrition as a key public policy agenda.
Scaling Local Interventions – Delivering impactful programs tailored to community needs.
Following the national launch, individual states have begun activating their Councils on Nutrition. In July 2025, Abia State Governor Alex Otti inaugurated the Abia State Council on Nutrition, a state-level mechanism to support N‑774 implementation.
Chaired by the Governor and composed of representatives from relevant ministries, the Council oversees strategy, coordination, and reporting of nutrition programs in alignment with federal directives. Governor Otti highlighted Abia’s commitment to public wellbeing, including 15% of its budget to health and 20% to education, while acknowledging that systematic nutrition monitoring remains a critical gap that N‑774 addresses.
At the grassroots, N‑774 empowers LGAs to take ownership of nutrition programming:
Local Nutrition Committees are activated
Budget lines are established to fund interventions
Nutrition education is delivered in schools and health facilities
This LGA-driven model shifts Nigeria’s approach from centralized planning to community ownership, ensuring interventions reach even the most remote communities.
Nutrition 774 represents a historic shift toward sustainable, measurable change in Nigeria:
A national priority led by the Vice President with strong stakeholder commitment
A decentralized framework putting LGAs at the heart of implementation
A commitment to data-driven accountability, multi-sector collaboration, and local ownership
As the initiative unfolds, HLADI AFRICA’s N‑774 Dashboard will serve as the central portal for updates, training resources, impact tracking, and engagement opportunities—including quizzes, challenges, and field tasks—ensuring no community is left behind.
“Nutrition is everyone’s business. Together, we can ensure that every child in Nigeria grows healthy, strong, and ready to contribute to our nation’s future.”
By HLADI Communications Team
Nutrition 774 Initiative – National Launch Report
