By Abdullahi Idris, Dutse In a significant move to combat child malnutrition and promote economic empowerment, Governor Umar Nam...
By Abdullahi Idris, Dutse
In a significant move to combat child malnutrition and promote economic empowerment, Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has presided over the graduation ceremony of 600 women trained in the production of the locally made nutritional formula known as ‘Tom Brown’. The event took place on Tuesday at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Dutse.
The initiative, according to the governor, is a homegrown solution aimed at tackling the twin challenges of malnutrition among children and economic hardship among women. He described the effort as a “formidable strategy” not only to uplift livelihoods but also to safeguard the cognitive and physical development of children across the state.
“We are profoundly grateful to Allah for giving us the wisdom to come up with this initiative, which will help us kill several birds with one stone,” Governor Namadi said.
Tom Brown—also locally called Kwashpap—is a blend of millet, soybeans, and groundnut, and is recognized as a highly nutritious, ready-to-use food for treating moderate acute malnutrition (MAM). The governor noted that the state’s nutrition policy aligns with this intervention, citing the 2024 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), which revealed a decline in child stunting rates from 64% in 2018 to 55% in 2024.
To support the beneficiaries, each of the 600 trained women received a starter package comprising a sealing machine and essential raw materials to begin small-scale Tom Brown production. Governor Namadi disclosed that local government authorities and primary healthcare centres will partner to integrate the formula into child nutrition programmes across the state.
“The training of these women is part of our larger goal to improve survival, growth, and development outcomes for children,” the governor added. “This is not just about sustaining progress but accelerating it.”
He reiterated his administration’s resolve to reduce dependence on expensive imported therapeutic foods by promoting affordable, locally produced alternatives. He also announced Jigawa’s active participation in the World Bank-supported Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project, which seeks to improve access to high-quality nutrition services for women and children under five.
“The overarching objective of this project is to increase the utilization of high-quality and cost-effective nutrition services,” Governor Namadi stated, expressing optimism that ANRiN would significantly support the state’s vision of achieving nutrition security for every child.
The event marks a milestone in Jigawa State’s campaign to fight malnutrition with community-led solutions and build a healthier future for the next generation.
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