Stakeholders Advocate New Strategies to Improve Nutrition in Adamawa
From Umar Dankano, Yola
Key stakeholders, including agricultural experts, nutritionists, academics, media professionals, and non-governmental organizations, have called for the adoption of more effective strategies to enhance quality nutrition across all stages of life in Adamawa State.
The call was made during a four-day training workshop on the domestication of the National Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) Strategy for Nutrition, held in Yola from 19th to 22nd May 2025. The workshop aimed to align state-level efforts with the national SBCC framework to improve nutrition outcomes in the region.
In his remarks, Sani Abubakar, UNICEF Nutrition Programme Facilitator for Adamawa State, emphasized the importance of the training in updating a vital document that impacts the wellbeing of all residents.
He urged participants to actively engage in knowledge-sharing sessions designed to align their efforts with the national strategy, understand context-specific approaches, and gain practical tools for promoting nutrition-related behavioural change.
Abubakar noted that the workshop also serves as a platform to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders committed to tackling nutrition challenges in the state.
“We work together to improve nutrition outcomes through evidence-based communication strategies tailored to the specific needs of our dear state,” he said.
Dr. Steve Daniel of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, the lead facilitator, explained that the workshop’s goal is to guide the domestication of a life cycle-focused SBCC nutrition strategy.
He said the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Health and in collaboration with development partners, has developed a four-to-five-year national action plan on nutrition, which states are expected to adapt to their local contexts.
Dr. Daniel added that the forum allows inclusive dialogue on nutrition ranging from pregnancy to old age by giving communities the opportunity to voice their needs and concerns.
He expressed optimism over the level of engagement and contributions from professionals, NGOs, and civil society organizations present.
A participant, Ismail Abdullahi Bida of the Valfasam Care Initiative, speaking on behalf of the Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CSSUN), described the training as a step in the right direction for improving the health and wellbeing of people in the state.
Our correspondent gathered that nutrition data was collected during the workshop, which will help inform actionable solutions to address the state’s nutrition challenges.
