FCTA tasks Abuja Area Councils to lead fight against malnutrition

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has directed the six Area Councils in Abuja to increase their ownership of food and nutrition programmes. This initiative aims to combat malnutrition, strengthen food security, and improve overall nutrition outcomes across the territory.

During a capacity-building workshop for Area Council Committees on Food and Nutrition, Mandate Secretary Ubokutom Nyah emphasized that nutrition security is vital for human capital development and economic prosperity. While strategic frameworks are developed at the Secretariat level, Nyah noted that the success of these policies depends on implementation at the community level, specifically within wards, villages, and households.

The training, organized in collaboration with UNICEF, focuses on equipping local leadership and nutrition focal officers with skills in monitoring, evaluation, and multisectoral coordination. Key topics include the importance of the first 1,000 days of life, the causes of malnutrition, and the management of the Child Nutrition Fund matching mechanism.