The Kwara State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Nutrition Marching Fund through the payment of 100,000 USD as counterpart fund, in its efforts to eradicate malnutrition in the State.
The Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, Mallam Lafia Aliyu Kora Sabi, who addressed the gathering at the Ministry’s conference room, noted that the State Government entered the bilateral agreement with UNICEF with the purpose of nipping the malnutrition menace in the bud.
Hon. Lafia stated that the leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is very committed to improving the livelihood of the vulnerable groups in the State, adding that the Nutrition Marching Fund is geared towards rewriting the ugly story of stunted children who are incapable of contributing meaningfully to the socio-economic development of the State.
He appreciated the UNICEF for its continuous support to the State, especially, concerning children’s welfarism, assuring that malnutrition indices will significantly dwindle as efforts are in top gear to implement the nutrition intervention programmes in the State.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Umar Yakub Jaja, appreciated the UNICEF for the constant support in children interventions, while thanking other Development Partners like Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria, (CS-SUNN) for supporting the State Government over the years.
He reassured that the State Government will work even harder in combatting malnutrition menace in Kwara State.
In his contribution, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Isiaka Olokooba, commended the UNICEF for the unwavering support to the State through the fight against malnutrition.
Alhaji Olokooba noted that the Agricultural sector has started a programme in which the nutritional value of the food items being supplied to the children are examined in order to improve their well-being, while assuring the UNICEF that much would have been achieved in the fight against malnutrition when next they visit the State.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Country Representative, Mrs. Christian Munduate commended the State Government for showing the political will to eradicate the malnutrition menace in the State through the payment of the UNICEF Counterpart Fund.
She noted that the State’s commitment to Nutrition Marching Fund will accelerate the fight against malnutrition through availability of funds, adding that malnutrition has greatly impaired the physical and mental growth of many children, which has in turn made them incapable of contributing positively to the economic development of the State.
Mrs. Munduate commended the State Government on several medical interventions on Primary Health Care sectors, especially, the Vitamin A fortification of children under the age of 5 years, saying UNICEF will continue to support the Kwara State Government.
Present at the event were: the UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Kaduna, Mrs. Gerida Birukilla; Director, Planning, Alhaji Alimi Kayode Surajudeen; Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, Hajia Maimunat Mustapha; Director, Budget, Alhaji Shamsideen Aregbe and Director, Debt Management, Mr. Ibiyinka Olatunde Steven.
