VP Shettima to open three-day summit on malnutrition and food security on July 7 in Abuja.
Lawmakers, security chiefs, and global partners to seek urgent solutions through multi-sector dialogue.
Vice President Kashim Shettima is set to declare open a three-day national summit on nutrition and food security starting Monday, July 7, 2025.
Organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, the summit will focus on the theme: “Curbing Malnutrition and Food Insecurity Through Effective Synergy.”
Speaking during a pre-event briefing on Thursday in Abuja, Committee Chairman Chike Okafor said the summit would run from July 7 to 9 at the National Assembly Complex. He emphasized that the event aims to foster cross-sector collaboration to combat rising malnutrition and food insecurity nationwide.
A significant highlight of the summit is the planned engagement with security chiefs on the second day. Okafor revealed that heads of major security agencies including the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigerian Army have been invited to participate.
“You can’t discuss food security without addressing insecurity. Farmers are unable to access their lands due to threats to their lives,” Okafor said. “We are demanding accountability from our security institutions on what measures are being taken to ensure safe access to farms.”
He added that although much of the security strategy remains classified, Nigerians deserve a transparent discussion on how government plans to secure agricultural communities.
Expected guests include Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma; Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago; members of the National Assembly; and officials from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.
Key ministries expected at the summit include Health, Education, Agriculture, Planning, and Finance. International development partners such as UNICEF, FAO, WFP, GAIN, CS-SUNN, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will also participate, alongside private sector leaders and civil society organizations.
Okafor described the event as a platform for inclusive, multi-stakeholder dialogue aimed at long-term impact. He acknowledged Nigeria’s long history of policies targeting food and nutrition but noted that the country still faces critical challenges.
“Malnutrition remains widespread, especially among children under five, pregnant women, and people living in underserved rural communities,” he stated.
He cited climate change, persistent insecurity, rising inflation, and inadequate food infrastructure as major drivers of the crisis. He also flagged low government investment in nutrition-focused programs as a core issue.
On the goals of the summit, Okafor outlined four key outcomes: legislative reforms at both federal and state levels; improved budgeting and monitoring of nutrition-related spending; clear policy reform proposals; and a domestication roadmap for nutrition policies at the state assembly level.
Also speaking at the briefing, House spokesman Akin Rotimi praised the committee’s efforts and said the summit’s approach reflects a broader strategy.
“This is not just about food on the table. It’s about climate change, low investment, insecurity, and weak infrastructure,” Rotimi said. “This summit will present a holistic approach over three days, involving all the sectors that can move the needle.”
