Bauchi State Child Nutrition Fund receives N600m from the state government and UNICEF to fight severe malnutrition among children
Bauchi State Child Nutrition Fund has received a significant boost as the state government released N300 million, matched by an additional N300 million from UNICEF, totalling N600 million for combating child malnutrition.
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This development was disclosed on Wednesday by the Chief of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, Nuzhat Rafique, during a media engagement following the visit of UNICEF Country Representative, Wafaa Saeed, to Governor Bala Mohammed.
“We are grateful to His Excellency, the Governor of Bauchi State, for releasing the promised N300m to UNICEF. This is a great milestone in our advocacy efforts,” Rafique said.
She noted that local governments, under ALGON, have also contributed N100 million, further strengthening the fund.
The intervention is targeted at procuring essential nutrition supplies and ready-to-use therapeutic food for malnourished children, as Bauchi continues to battle alarming malnutrition rates.
Governor Bala Mohammed reportedly pledged to raise the state’s contribution to N1 billion in 2026, which UNICEF also committed to match.
Rafique stressed that the fight against malnutrition must go beyond treatment.
“No child should suffer malnutrition. It affects physical growth, cognitive development, and overall well-being. Prevention is better than treatment.”
She advocated for community-based solutions, improved maternal care, and proper child-feeding practices—especially during the crucial first 1,000 days of life.
The roundtable also highlighted the role of traditional leaders, religious figures, and community groups in promoting nutrition awareness and reducing stigma.
Bauchi’s intervention comes amid worsening national malnutrition figures. According to UNICEF’s April 2025 report, 8.8 million Nigerians need urgent nutrition assistance, including 4.9 million children.
A PUNCH editorial recently described the Northern malnutrition crisis as “grave,” with 5.4 million children under age five affected in the North-West and North-East.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reports that 652 children died from malnutrition in Katsina State alone in the first half of 2025—deaths linked to funding cuts, insecurity, and weakened healthcare systems.
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Despite a 33.7% increase in Nigeria’s nutrition budget to N170 billion, inflation, poverty, and poor implementation continue to hinder progress.
