Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has inaugurated the Abia State Nutrition Council as part of efforts to improve health and tackle malnutrition across the state. The council will implement the Nutrition 774 (N-774) initiative, a federal government programme aimed at improving nutrition in all 774 local government areas in Nigeria.

Speaking during the inauguration on Tuesday, Governor Otti described the initiative as timely and necessary, given its goal of improving the well-being of citizens, especially children.

“When people are well fed, they are less likely to fall sick,” Otti said, emphasizing that proper nutrition complements the state’s investments in healthcare and education.

According to him, 15% of Abia’s total budget in the last two years was allocated to healthcare, and 20% to education, making up a significant 35% investment in human development. He also explained that while the government has been addressing infrastructure and public health, it must now start deliberately tracking nutrition data to monitor progress effectively.

About the N-774 Initiative

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health and Focal Person for N-774, Uju Rochas-Anwukah, gave a detailed overview of the programme during the visit. She explained that the N-774 initiative is a community-based, multisectoral programme designed to improve nutrition outcomes by involving sectors like:

Health

Agriculture

Education

Social protection

Water and sanitation

Rochas-Anwukah noted that Nigeria ranks 2nd globally in terms of malnutrition and that about 45% of children’s deaths in the country are linked to poor nutrition. She praised Governor Otti for the developmental strides in Abia and said his leadership has been recognized even from Abuja.

“Malnutrition knows no religion, tribe, or politics. It’s a serious problem that needs a joint effort from all sectors and levels of government,” she said.

Council Composition

The council is chaired by Governor Otti himself and includes key stakeholders such as:

Commissioner for Budget and Planning (Vice Chairman)

House Committee Chairman on Food and Nutrition

ALGON Chairman

Commissioners from ministries including Health, Agriculture, Education, Finance, Women Affairs, Information, and more

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Planning (Secretary)

Governor Otti urged members of the council to focus on coordination, performance tracking, and ensuring that the initiative truly impacts communities across Abia.

The event was well attended by senior government officials and marked a bold step toward ensuring that every Abia citizen, especially children, has access to proper nutrition and better health.