In a major move to strengthen its human capital and nutrition landscape, Cross River State under the leadership of Governor Bassey Edet Otu officially inaugurated a 15‑member State Council on Nutrition at the Executive Council Chamber, Calabar. The Council is chaired by Governor Otu himself, with Bong Duke serving as Vice Chairman and the Permanent Secretary of the State Planning Commission as Secretary.
Governor Otu described the inauguration as “a decisive step toward investing in the most valuable asset of Cross River State—its people.” He emphasised that true growth cannot be achieved unless the health and nutrition of citizens are placed at the centre of the state’s development agenda.
“We cannot talk about productivity if our children are malnourished. We cannot expect a strong workforce if our people are weakened by poor diets and preventable diseases. Nutrition is the starting point for everything else we hope to achieve.”
The composition of the Council underscores a multi‑sectoral approach: members include the Chief Whip of the State House of Assembly, all local government council chairmen, and Commissioners for Health, Agriculture, Education, Finance, Women’s Affairs, Information & Orientation, Water Resources, and Environment. Nutrition advocate Edem Okokon is also a notable member.
This inclusive structure is designed to institutionalise nutrition governance across all relevant ministries and local levels, ensuring that interventions are coordinated, well‑funded, and accountable.
Governor Otu highlighted that the government has already made nutrition and preventive healthcare foundational to its human capital development plan. “Our agenda was very clear from the beginning: we want a people’s government. Everything we do must put the people at the centre.”
He revealed that early interventions have begun to yield positive outcomes, noting a steady decline in infant morbidity and mortality rates in the state. The new Council is tasked with consolidating these gains, scaling them up, and ensuring impact reaches every local government area.
Among the key pledges are commitments to:
Scale up school‑feeding programmes,
Fortify staple foods with essential vitamins and minerals, and
Raise awareness and shift family dietary habits for long‑term nutrition impact.
Governor Otu stressed that the Council’s role is not ceremonial but requires dedication, innovation, and compassion. “Every decision you take here will touch the lives of mothers, children, and families across our state. I expect nothing less than your best.”
The Council will work in synergy with federal initiatives, donor agencies, and community‑based structures, ensuring that cross‑sector resources are aligned, monitored, and results‑oriented.
This approach emphasises that community ownership, local government leadership, and data‑driven monitoring are central to achieving sustainable nutrition outcomes.
With the formal inauguration of the Council, Cross River State signals its readiness to transform nutrition from an afterthought into a cornerstone of development. Governor Otu’s declaration—“we are planting seeds today that will bear fruits for generations”—reflects a long‑term vision for a healthier, stronger, and more productive citizenry.
The newly‑established Council will now begin implementing targeted strategies across local government areas, integrating nutrition into education and agriculture, strengthening maternal and child health services, and mobilising communities to participate in and sustain the initiative.
For Cross River State, this is the beginning of a new era: where nutrition becomes a strategic asset, not just a health sector concern. The message is clear — your health matters, your children matter, and your future matters.
