In a bid to address severe malnutrition in Africa’s most populous country, Vice President Kashim Shettima has inaugurated a high-powered Nutrition Core Working Committee (NCWC) which has the mandate to tackle poverty and malnutrition.
The body dubbed ‘Intellectual Powerhouse’ by the vice president will spearhead the fight against hunger and malnutrition across Nigeria.
Speaking during the inauguration of the committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Senator Shettima in a statement by his spokesman, Stanley Nwkocha, emphasised the importance of coordination and collaboration with the National Committee on Food and Nutrition (NCFN).
‘We are determined to upturn the negative nutrition indices of this country,’ he said.
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Shettima cited his recent visit to Tudun Biri village in Kaduna State where he witnessed the plight of a malnourished child caught in the military drone strike, saying ‘We have no excuse for poverty.’
Shettima expressed resolute commitment to breaking the cycle of poverty and malnutrition. ‘Let us do something truly impactful for Nigerians,’ he said.
He reminded the committee members of their shared responsibility, adding; ‘We are all products of the public school system, and history will judge us harshly if we fail to change the narrative of this country.’
Special assistant to the president on public health, Office of the Vice President, Uju Okorocha, noted that the incursion of nutrition in Nigeria is far beyond health.
Meanwhile, as many Nigerians groan in poverty due to the rising cost of living occasioned by unprecedented inflation Shettima had recently admitted that the poor in the country are angry with government officials and other members of the elite, who constitute the minority.
The vice-president made this known at the graduation ceremony of the Executive Intelligence Management Course 16 participants from different security agencies and nominees of state governments in Abuja on Saturday.
The event was organised by the National Institute for Security Studies.
This is the first time a senior government official is admitting the biting hardship in the country, which has been aggravated since President Bola Tinubu took over the reins of government on the 29th of May, 2023.