Historical Background and Rationale for the Nutrition and Food Safety Division

In line with the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Honorable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina articulated that the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) must unlock Nigeria’s huge agricultural potentials to improve availability and access to diverse, safe and nutritious foods, create jobs, and contribute to improve food and nutrition security and economic development through the building of food commodity value chains and related institutions. 

Substantial and sustainable reduction in malnutrition in Nigeria will remain a significant challenge without an effective linkage with the agricultural sector. The ATA will take a multi-sectoral approach, by accelerating progress in ensuring nutrition and food security for vulnerable households in Nigeria by mainstreaming nutrition into agriculture and maximizing the positive nutrition outcomes.

The Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, in recognition of the role of agriculture in improving nutrition approved the formation of an Interministerial Nutrition Team located in the Ministry of Agriculture which has now evolved to the Nutrition Transformation Value Chain (NTVC). This team is to drive the mainstreaming of nutrition into agricultural policies, programmes and value chains. The Honourable Minister also appointed a Senior Advisor on Food Security and Nutrition to further engage with stakeholders, articulate and drive a common agenda on nutrition sensitive agriculture in Nigeria.

Some progress has been made in setting up a structure, vision, and mission and action plan for the NTVC. The ATA food security and nutrition strategy has also been developed and will provide the road map for mainstreaming nutrition into agricultural policies, programmes and value chains. The operational structure and functions of the Nutrition Transformation Value Chain has further been strengthened and clarified through a robust engagement with key stakeholders to build a comprehensive road map and action plan with clear monitoring and evaluation framework. Also,     series of capacity building engagements have been carried out to make the Value Chain more effective and fully operational.