Stakeholders in the government and development agencies, agribusiness, as well as consulting fields are advocating for a transformative approach to combat Nigeria’s malnutrition crisis, urging the private sector to treat nutrition as a business opportunity with strong returns, not just a charitable cause.
The call came during the Private Sector Roundtable on Sustainable Nutrition hosted virtually by Community Pot.
Themed “Nigeria’s Next Frontier for Human Capital & Business Returns”, the event sought to address the alarming reality of over two million Nigerian children under five being acutely malnourished, with poor nutrition contributing to 45% of child deaths.
Founder of Community Pot, Oluwakemi Jeje, stated that while donor funding has helped in combating malnutrition, it cannot single-handedly solve the crisis.
“If charity alone could solve it, it would have by now. The size of the malnutrition problem is also the size of the opportunity for businesses. Brands must plug in, from production to distribution, to create sustainable change.”
Giving the keynote address, Director of the Economic Planning Department, Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Saheed Olowonishaye, noted that nutrition is a multisectoral responsibility spanning health, agriculture, education, environment, and the private sector.
“No matter how many roads, hospitals, or schools we build, they won’t matter if we lack the human capital to manage them. A malnourished child cannot grow to lead or sustain any institution.”
One of the Speakers and Consultant at Sahel Consulting, Hauwa Ali, highlighted the need for local production of therapeutic foods as global supply chains falter.
“There’s a huge opportunity for Nigeria’s private sector to innovate affordable, nutrient-rich alternatives. With the right data and alignment, NGOs and businesses can achieve shared impact.
Also speaking, HR Lead at Flour Mills of Nigeria (Agro Allied Division), Christianah Olukanni, called for integrating nutrition into core business strategy.
“Commercial strategy and nutrition goals are not opposing forces; they can and must work together. Aligning with health and sustainability builds brand trust and long-term loyalty.”
Director of Health and Nutrition, Aliko Dangote Foundation, Dr. Francis Aminu, urged the private sector to move beyond funding to co-creating solutions.
“We must adopt a systems approach he said, adding that, the real change we need is not just in personal behavior, but in institutional behavior. Businesses should own the vision and be part of long-term impact.”
Community Pot is a social impact initiative focused on ending malnutrition in Nigeria through data-driven education, multisector partnerships, and locally sustainable solutions. The organisation leads the Nutrition Support Centre (NSC) initiative, which is creating a new model for nutrition delivery and access in Nigeria.
Since 2022, Community Pot has been a pillar of hope, serving over 800 children in underserved communities across Nigeria with specialised, organic protein meals.