The Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO, an agency of the United Nations, has revealed that over 3.7 million children are malnourished in the Northern region of Nigeria.
This followed the worsening food crisis that has trailed the biting economic policies in the country.
FAO in its latest report raised concerns over the high rate of malnutrition in North Eastern Nigeria, even as it revealed that children in the region are stunted, wasted, or anaemic.
These were contained in a statement by FAO’s Communication Specialist, David Tsokar, on Thursday during a high-level roundtable convened by the Government of Borno State in collaboration with FAO to scale up the production and utilisation of the Tom Brown initiative.
The event, which took place at the UN House in Abuja on Wednesday, brought together representatives of federal ministries, donors, UN agencies, and NGOs, who assured of their commitment to addressing food insecurity in the region.
According to the Northeast Nutrition Sector, represented by the Nutrition Sector Coordinator, John Mukisa, “an alarming 3.7 million children in northeastern Nigeria are stunted, wasted, or anaemic, adding that “investments in low-cost, innovative, and locally sourced solutions such as Tom Brown could save the Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States an estimated USD 120 million annually.”
Borno State Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Professor Baba Gana, stressed the need to combat malnutrition in the region. “Nigeria continues to bear one of the highest burdens of malnutrition globally,” he said.
“This reality underscores the urgency of our gathering today. It is imperative that we adopt innovative, community-driven approaches to combat malnutrition and ensure food security. Tom Brown has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in addressing malnutrition, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children under five and lactating mothers.”
Tom Brown, a nutrient-dense food made from locally available ingredients, has been recognised as an effective intervention in reducing malnutrition and preventing relapse by up to 35 per cent among children discharged from UNICEF and WFP-supported nutrition centres.
In his remarks, the FAO Representative ad interim, Koffy Dominique Kouacou, emphasised the broader benefits of the initiative.
He said: “Scaling up Tom Brown will not only meet urgent nutritional needs but also create livelihood opportunities, strengthen local markets, and generate revenue for regional development.
“To bring this vision to life, we need partnership, expertise, and resources. Beyond figures and policies, we must remember the human faces behind the statistics — the children whose lives we can save, the families we can uplift, and the communities we can transform.”
The Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, underscored the economic potential of Tom Brown, stating that “The production and commercialization of Tom Brown will attract investment from the private sector, boosting state revenue and positioning Borno as a leader in nutrition-sensitive agriculture.”
Stakeholders at the roundtable deliberated on the challenges and opportunities in scaling up Tom Brown production, with a focus on establishing a dedicated production facility in Borno State.
The meeting resulted in a draft roadmap outlining expansion efforts, including strategies to sustain the initiative.
FAO has also enhanced Tom Brown with fish protein, which has been distributed as emergency nutritional assistance to flood-affected families.
FAO and the Borno State Government therefore called on donors, government agencies, private sector investors, and humanitarian organisations to support the initiative.
“Scaling up Tom Brown production in Borno State and beyond has the potential to significantly reduce malnutrition and improve food security for the most vulnerable populations across Nigeria,” the FAO statement added.
