CS-SUNN Urges Urgent Investment in Nutrition to Save Benue Children
Says 25.3% of Children Stunted Despite State’s ‘Food Basket’ Status
By Our Correspondent In Makurdi
The Civil Society–Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) has called for urgent and sustained investment in nutrition to address the alarming rate of child malnutrition in Benue State.
The appeal was made by the Executive Secretary of CS-SUNN, Mr. Sunday Okoronkwo, during a press briefing and media roundtable held on Friday in Makurdi.
Okoronkwo described malnutrition as a serious public health and development challenge in Benue, a state widely regarded as Nigeria’s “Food Basket of the Nation.” He noted that despite its vast agricultural potential, the state continues to record disturbing indicators of child malnutrition and widespread household food insecurity.
According to data presented at the forum, 25.3 per cent of children in Benue are stunted, 6.7 per cent suffer from wasting, while 13.6 per cent are underweight.
He warned that these conditions threaten child survival, weaken educational outcomes, and diminish future workforce productivity.
The CS-SUNN Executive Secretary stressed that investing in nutrition should not be viewed merely as a social intervention but as a strategic economic decision.
He explained that both global and national evidence consistently show that malnutrition erodes human capital and suppresses lifetime earnings.
He emphasized the importance of the first 1,000 days of life, from conception to a child’s second birthday, describing it as a critical window for intervention. Investments in maternal, infant, and young child nutrition during this period, he said, yield significant returns in improved health, cognitive development, and long-term productivity.
Okoronkwo disclosed that with support from the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), CS-SUNN is implementing a project titled “Increased Investment in Nutrition to Scale Up Quality Nutrition Services” in Benue State.
The initiative aims to strengthen financing mechanisms and expand access to quality nutrition services across the state.
Among its advocacy priorities, the organisation is pushing for sustainable domestic financing for nutrition, including the adoption of innovative funding mechanisms such as the Child Nutrition Fund.
It also called for the timely release and efficient utilisation of budgeted nutrition funds, alongside increased allocations to nutrition-sensitive sectors including health, agriculture, education, water and sanitation, and social protection.
In addition, CS-SUNN advocated for extending paid maternity leave in the public sector from three to six months to promote exclusive breastfeeding and improve child survival rates.
The organisation reiterated its commitment to working with government and development partners to ensure that nutrition remains a top priority on the state’s development agenda.
