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By Comfort Pius, Jos
Plateau State Government has welcomed partners and stakeholders to the handover ceremony of 5,392 cartons of Small-Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS), procured through the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) in partnership with UNICEF, to tackle childhood malnutrition in the state.
The ceremony, held at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Little Rayfield, Jos, on September 1, 2025, was performed on behalf of Governor Caleb Mutfwang by his Deputy, Her Excellency Ngo Josephine Piyo.
Hon. Adams Bulus Lekshak, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, explained that Plateau State had committed $200,000 to the CNF, which was matched by UNICEF, making a total investment of $400,000. The funds enabled the procurement of 5,392 cartons of SQ-LNS, expected to benefit 80,000 children aged 6–23 months over the next five months.
“This is only the beginning,” Lekshak said. “There are 141,519 eligible children across the state. Today’s handover marks the first phase of intervention, and we must sustain the momentum.”
Representing the Governor, Deputy Governor Piyo described the launch as another milestone of the Time Is Now administration, stressing that nutrition is central to the government’s human capital development agenda. She said the initiative would prevent “irreversible damage to the cognitive, intellectual, and physical development of our children,” pledging continued government commitment to resource mobilization despite insecurity challenges.
Speaking on the essence of the supplements, the Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Primary Health Care Board, Mr. Raymond Jurit, explained that SQ-LNS are small sachets of lipid-based nutrient paste fortified with essential vitamins and minerals. He said the supplement is designed to fill nutrient gaps in the diets of children aged 6–23 months, a critical window when breastfeeding alone is no longer sufficient.
“With SQ-LNS, we can reduce stunting, boost immunity, and help our children grow to their full potential,” Jurit noted, adding that frontline health workers will be central in distributing the products at community level.
In her goodwill message, UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Wafaa Saeed, praised Plateau State’s “rare political will” and commitment to multi-year funding. She emphasized the urgency of investing in children within the first 1,000 days of life, noting that during this period, “a child’s brain develops up to 75 per cent of its capacity.”
“If we miss this window, even if the child survives, the damage is often permanent,” Saeed warned. She further noted that malnourished children face greater risks from the “smallest shocks” and urged Plateau to use its agricultural advantage to drive local production of affordable, nutritious food.
Community leaders also pledged support. Ujah Anaguta Jauro Johnson Magaji thanked UNICEF, adding, “like Oliver Twist, we are asking for more.” Hon. Patrick Silas Dung, Chairman of Jos South and Deputy Chairman of ALGON, said the real work lies at the grassroots: “We must sensitize our people we cannot afford to raise malnourished children.”
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