Reps Unveil Nutrition Summit to Tackle Food Crisis

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The House of Representatives on Thursday announced a National Summit on Nutrition and Food Security aimed at finding lasting solutions to malnutrition and widespread food insecurity.

The summit, themed “Curbing Malnutrition and Food Insecurity Through Effective Synergies,” is being positioned as a major step toward coordinated national action on nutrition and sustainable food systems.

Scheduled to hold in Abuja, the summit will run from July 8 to 10, 2025, and will coincide with the opening of the House of Representatives Open Week.

Addressing Newsmen at the National Assembly on Thursday, Chairman, House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, John Okafor, said the Summit is not ceremonial,” noting that it will bring together stakeholders from across the executive and legislative branches at all tiers of government, alongside international development partners, civil society, and the private sector.

He emphasized that the House of Representatives is pioneering a legislative agenda focused on nutrition and food security for the first time in Nigeria’s history.

This follows the establishment of the dedicated Committee in November 2023 under the leadership of Speaker Abbas Tajudeen.

“This is the first-ever House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security in Nigeria,” he said. “It signals our resolve to lead from the front in combating one of the most pressing human development challenges of our time.”

Okafor raised alarm over the **persistent threats to Nigeria’s food system**, citing climate change, insecurity in food-producing regions, high inflation, poor infrastructure, and inadequate public investment in nutrition programmes.

Vulnerable groups—especially children under five, pregnant and nursing mothers, and rural dwellers—remain the most affected.

He adds that the Summit will feature high-level plenaries, panel discussions, presentations on the N-774 Initiative, and an exhibition of nutrition technologies.

Vice President Kashim Shettima is expected as the Special Guest of Honour, while Speaker Abbas will serve as Chief Host.

Governors Hope Uzodimma of Imo State and Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State are also billed to attend.

Expected outcomes include stronger legislative frameworks, improved budget tracking for nutrition funding, a roadmap for state-level policy implementation, and better alignment between development partners and Nigeria’s national priorities.

Okafor concluded with a call to action: “Let us build a nation where every child is nourished, every mother is healthy, and every household is food secure.”