Governor Alex Otti Inaugurates Abia State Nutrition Council, Commits to Tackling Malnutrition Through N774 Federal Initiative

Abia State has taken a major step toward combating malnutrition with the official inauguration of the Abia State Nutrition Council by Governor Dr. Alex Otti on Tuesday. The Council will spearhead the implementation of the Nutrition 774 (N-774) Initiative of the Federal Government across the state’s 17 Local Government Areas.

The newly formed Council is tasked with leading policy direction, coordination, and oversight to ensure that nutrition becomes an integrated part of Abia’s development efforts. At the event held in Umuahia, Governor Otti described the initiative as “a welcomed development” and emphasized its potential to drastically improve health outcomes if effectively monitored and executed.

“Nutrition is not just a health issue. It’s foundational to everything — health, education, productivity. If people are well-fed, they’ll fall ill less often, meaning our healthcare investments will yield even more impact,” Otti said.

Governor Otti disclosed that his administration has consistently allocated 15% of the state’s annual budget to healthcare and 20% to education, demonstrating a clear commitment to human capital development. However, he admitted that while Abia has made significant progress in infrastructure and healthcare, more effort is needed in tracking and reporting nutrition data.

He praised the advocacy visit by the National Technical Working Group, led by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Nutrition and Focal Person for the N774 Initiative, Dr. Uju Rochas-Anwukah, saying their presence would help stir deliberate action in nutrition reporting and implementation.

Dr. Rochas-Anwukah provided an overview of the Nutrition 774 initiative, describing it as a multisectoral, community-based response to Nigeria’s deepening malnutrition crisis. She pointed out that Nigeria currently ranks second globally for malnutrition, which contributes to nearly 45% of child deaths and entrenches intergenerational poverty.

“This programme is designed to break that cycle,” she said. “Malnutrition doesn’t care about tribe, religion, or politics. It’s a national crisis that demands collective action.”

She commended Governor Otti’s leadership and applauded his administration for creating a visible wave of transformation across Abia, even as observed from outside the state.

The Council will be chaired by Governor Otti and co-chaired by the Commissioner for Budget and Planning. Members include the Chairman, House Committee on Food and Nutrition; ALGON Chairman; and Commissioners for Health, Agriculture, Basic and Secondary Education, Finance, Women Affairs, Information, Culture and Creative Economy, Power and Public Utilities, and Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and Planning will serve as the Secretary.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by several senior government officials, development stakeholders, and media representatives.

This strategic move marks a new chapter in Abia’s commitment to improving its nutrition indicators, reducing child mortality, and enhancing quality of life through coordinated governance.