The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that every $1 invested in child nutrition generates a $16 return, emphasising the economic and developmental urgency of tackling malnutrition among children aged 6 to 23 months in Plateau State.
Philomena Irene, Nutrition Specialist with UNICEF Nigeria Bauchi office, disclosed this at the end of a two-day media dialogue organised by UNICEF Nigeria held in Jos, Plateau State in partnership with key stakeholders. The event focused on improving complementary feeding practices during the critical period after exclusive breastfeeding, where dietary diversity becomes essential for child development.
Irene said while exclusive breastfeeding is vital for children from birth to six months; attention must shift to ensuring that nutrient-rich complementary foods are introduced afterward.
However, high food costs, alongside aid cuts have pushed 3.5m children into malnutrition. The Plateau State government contributes N200m to N500m to procure SQ-LNS and MLS mean – small quantity lipid-based supplements that mothers get from the facility, to tackle malnutrition, avoid misuse and regulate the usage.
“In Plateau State, according to the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, two out of every three children suffer from food poverty, meaning they lack access to the minimum dietary diversity needed for proper growth,” she stated. “Our goal with this dialogue is to mobilise awareness and foster government and community action to improve child nutrition outcomes.”
Irene highlighted the significant consequences of malnutrition on cognitive and physical development, especially in the 6–23 months age range, which falls within the first 1,000 days of life, a scientifically proven window critical to lifelong development.
The nutrition specialist warned that failing to invest in nutrition carries steep costs for families and the country. “It costs ₦21,000 to prevent malnutrition, but more than ₦190,000 to treat it. The return on investment is clear for every $1 spent on nutrition, we get $16 in economic return,” Irene added, citing research from the World Bank and Lancet Series.
One of the key interventions spotlighted at the event was the introduction of Small Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS)—a specialized supplement for enriching the diets of children during the complementary feeding period.
She explained that in 2024, Plateau State committed $200,000 to the Child Nutrition Fund, which was matched by UNICEF. The joint funding enabled the state to procure over 5,900 cartons of SQ-LNS for distribution. Irene also revealed that discussions are underway to commence local production of SQ-LNS in Nigeria, a move aimed at reducing costs and creating jobs.
