Bauchi Government and UNICEF commit N600m to tackle child malnutrition, supporting therapeutic feeding and maternal care across the state

Bauchi Government UNICEF child nutrition initiative has received a major boost, as the state government fulfilled its commitment by releasing N300 million to the UNICEF-managed Child Nutrition Fund.

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UNICEF will match the amount, raising the total intervention fund to N600 million, aimed at combating severe child malnutrition across the state.

The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Chief of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, Nuzhat Rafique, during an engagement with journalists.

She described the state’s commitment as a “great milestone” and praised Governor Bala Mohammed for taking swift action following a visit from the new UNICEF Country Representative, Wafaa Saeed.

Rafique confirmed that local governments under the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) had also contributed an additional N100 million, bringing the total support pool to N700 million.

These funds will be used to procure nutrition supplies, including ready-to-use therapeutic food, for children suffering from acute malnutrition.

Highlighting the significance of the Bauchi Government UNICEF Child Nutrition initiative, Rafique said the intervention is not just about short-term treatment but also long-term prevention.

She emphasized the need for behavioural change, local food solutions, and stronger maternal and child healthcare practices throughout a child’s first 1,000 days.

“No child should suffer malnutrition. It affects physical growth, cognitive development, and long-term well-being. We must go beyond treatment and invest in prevention,” she said, urging support from traditional leaders, communities, and religious institutions.

During her recent tour of Bauchi and Plateau States, UNICEF’s Wafaa Saeed lauded community involvement and reaffirmed the agency’s dedication to sustainable solutions.

Governor Mohammed also pledged to increase Bauchi State’s contribution to N1 billion in 2026, with UNICEF expected to match that sum as well.

This intervention comes against the backdrop of a growing crisis.

According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, 5.4 million children in the North-West and North-East suffer from acute malnutrition, with conditions expected to persist through 2025.

In Katsina State alone, 652 children reportedly died of malnutrition-related causes in the first half of 2025.

Despite a 33.7% increase in Nigeria’s 2025 nutrition budget, high food inflation, poverty, and weak healthcare systems continue to impede progress.

UNICEF reports that Nigeria has the second-highest global rate of stunted children, with northern states facing the brunt of the burden.

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The Bauchi Government UNICEF child nutrition partnership is seen as a model for other states to follow, combining government funding, donor support, and community-driven solutions to tackle one of Nigeria’s most urgent humanitarian challenges.