Ondo Assembly Mobilizes Stakeholders Against Hunger, Malnutrition

By Precious Oluwole

The Ondo State House of Assembly has renewed its commitment to tackling food insecurity and malnutrition, pledging stronger collaboration with ministries, agencies, and development partners.

This resolution followed a Stakeholders’ Meeting on Nutrition and Food Security held on Tuesday at the Assembly’s mini chamber in Akure, convened by the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security.

Declaring the session open, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Chief) Olamide Oladiji, described the initiative as a decisive response to a national emergency.

“The statistics are alarming: three in every ten children are stunted, two malnourished, and one wasted. These numbers represent not just figures but the lives and future of our people. Tackling malnutrition is our shared responsibility,” Oladiji said.

He explained that the Federal Government’s Nutrition 774 Initiative, recently launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, distinguishes this intervention from previous efforts. According to him, the initiative already enjoys legislative and executive backing, involves over 40 ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), and has been fully captured in the federal budget.

The Speaker commended the Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Hon. Nelson Akinsuroju, and his team for their dedication, urging them to sustain collaboration with MDAs, civil society, and grassroots communities.

In his welcome remarks, Akinsuroju stressed the urgency of the crisis. “Malnutrition has reached critical levels. Three in ten children are stunted, two are malnourished, and one wasted. These are not just statistics; they are the future of our nation,” he warned.

He outlined that the Nutrition 774 Initiative, inaugurated by the Vice President on June 20, 2025, provides a clear framework for federal, state, and local governments—covering intervention areas, monitoring and evaluation, governance structures, and financial resource mobilization.

Akinsuroju further assured that the Assembly would push for timely release of funds, adequate budgetary provisions, and grassroots engagement. He also announced plans to inaugurate Nutrition and Food Security Committees across all 18 local government areas of Ondo State.

In his goodwill message, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Olaolu Akindolire, pledged that nutrition and food security would be prioritized in state budgets.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Mr. Leye Akinola, highlighted ongoing programmes to boost food production and ensure availability of nutritious food, noting that agricultural policies are being aligned with food security goals.

Representatives of the Commissioners for Health, Education, and Women Affairs described malnutrition as a major public health concern, promising expanded maternal and child nutrition services, integration of nutrition education in schools, and reinforcement of school feeding programmes.

ALGON Chairman, Dr. Gbenga Fasua, assured full cooperation of all local government chairmen, stressing that interventions must reach rural communities.

A representative of SUBEB confirmed that nutrition awareness will be mainstreamed into basic education while strengthening school meal programmes.

The Hospital Management Board and Primary Health Care Agency pledged intensified efforts in early detection, treatment, and referral of malnutrition cases.

At the end of the meeting, participants resolved to foster multi-sectoral collaboration, implement effective programmes, and monitor progress to drastically reduce malnutrition and food insecurity in the state.

Stakeholders unanimously described the initiative as timely, people-centered, and capable of transforming lives if properly implemented.