The Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, says that the Federal Government of Nigeria has mobilised over N7.6 billion for child nutrition and other enabling essential micronutrients to reach millions of women and children
Receiving the UNICEF delegation led by the Executive Director Catherine Russell at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday, Shettima said that the investments were mobilised through the Presidential Nutrition Intervention Fund.
He said that the administration was implementing programmes to strengthen the future of Nigerian children in spite of prevailing economic and social challenges.
Shettima described investment in children as critical, warning that raising a generation without opportunities would be a national tragedy.
He commended UNICEF for its continued partnership, describing the organisation as a dependable ally providing expertise and practical support for child-focused programmes.
SHettima noted that global developments increasingly affected children’s wellbeing, making sustained investment in their future more important.
He listed key initiatives of the administration, including the Nutrition 774 Initiative, Renewed Hope Child Support Programme and Nigeria 2050 Child Foresight Analysis.
He said that the Nutrition 774 Initiative would strengthen nutrition governance across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
According to him, UNICEF is supporting Nigeria’s 2050 Child Foresight Analysis through horizon scanning, scenario planning and evidence-based policy recommendations.
He explained that the initiative is progressing toward subnational implementation through a multi-stakeholder technical working group.
According to Shettima, Generation Unlimited Nigeria aims to connect 20 million young Nigerians to livelihood opportunities by 2030 and that the National Human Capital Development Programme seeks to place Nigeria among the world’s top 80 countries on the Human Capital Index by 2030.
The programme focuses on investments in health, nutrition, foundational learning and pathways to productive employment.
He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the Universal Child Benefit, with 2026 designated as the Year of Family and Social Protection.
Earlier, Russell commended Tinubu and Shettima for implementing reforms that were expanding opportunities for Nigerian children.
She reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to supporting Nigeria through improved healthcare, financing and social protection programmes.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, praised UNICEF’s partnership with Nigeria across critical sectors.
Pate said that UNICEF procured vaccines for Nigeria and provided technical support to strengthen the country’s health institutions.
GIK/APA