By RismadarVoice Media, December 19, 2025
Micronutrient deficiency as one of the major silent public health challenges confronting the nation, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammed Ali Pate has said.
To this end, he stressed the urgent need for the nation to move from fragmented nutrition programmes to coordinated, evidence-based actions to address widespread micronutrient deficiencies across the country.
Prof. Pate, who made this known in Abuja at the 2025 National Micronutrient Conference themed: “Strengthening Resilient Systems for Addressing Micro-Nutrient Deficiencies in Nigeria” , said the theme of the conference points to the nation’s unwavering commitment towards building an integrated, sustainable, evidence-based response to one of the most silent, but pervasive public health challenges facing the nation.
He explained that the conference was convened to bring together government, development partners, civil society, the private sector to review data, align strategies and strengthen systems across health, food, education, social protection, water, sanitation.
Also speaking, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziak Adekunle Salako said the conference underscored the magnitude of micronutrient efficiency in the nation, reflects the share commitment towards tackling one of the most pressing public health and developmental challenges facing the nation.
According to him, discussion on micronutrient should not be seen as mere talk, rather a national platform for dialogue, reflection and coordinated action to address the severe public health issues which affect millions of Nigerians especially women, children.
On his part, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari said the micronutrient deficiency otherwise known as (hidden hunger) was the most overlooked challenge in food chain, affects millions of Nigerians especially women, infants, children.
Kyari added that the real issue was not only quantity of food, but quality and nutritional value the food provides.
He noted that micronutrient deficiency was not only health issue, but an agricultural, productive, economic and national development issues.
Minister Kyari reiterated that the nation faces the challenge of ensuring every household has access, not just to adequate food, also to nutrient rich food that strengthens immunity, supports child development, improve cognitive performance.
He disclosed that the success of national agricultural transformation depends on health and resilience of the people; urged stakeholders to come together, collaborate to achieve the desired objective.
Also speaking, Minister of Women Affairs, Iman Suleman Ibrahim who was represented by Christiana Oliko said the theme of the conference could not be timelier, more strategic – considering the collective resolve to end malnutrition.
She said micronutrient deficiency remains one of the silent, but devastating drivers of ill-health, poor learning outcomes, low productivity, maternal, child mortality.
Not left out, Statistician General and CEO National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Yemi Adeniran represented by an NBS official who observed that Micronutrient deficiencies have been a major public health concern in Nigeria, with far-reaching consequences on the country’s economic development, healthcare systems, overall well-being of its citizens.
He maintained that it was only through strengthened, resilient systems that the nation can effectively identify, prevent, treat micronutrient deficiencies, ultimately improving the lives of millions of Nigerians.
However, Prof. Pate inaugurated the 33-Member-National Micronutrient Deficiency Control (MNDC) Advisory Committee chaired by outgoing Director and Head of Nutrition Dept, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mrs. Ladidi K. Bako-Aiyegbusi mni. It was a multi-stakeholder body, tasked with guiding implementation, monitoring progress, advising government on priority actions and engaging constructively on how best to upscale nutrition.
Equally, Pate unveiled other nutrition policy documents, including the Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) landscape analysis and roadmap, the Nutrition Emergency Strategy, knowledge management and advocacy frameworks aimed at strengthening nutrition delivery, nationwide.
While delivering the vote of thanks, Mrs. Ladidi K. Bako-Aiyegbusi mni thanked stakeholders for their commitment in upscaling nutrition.
