Breakfast Meeting in Kebbi: Stakeholders Pledge Support for Child Nutrition Fund, Maternity Leave

By Umar Faruk

Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, Nigeria - August 21, 2025(Series News Online)

A one-day breakfast meeting was convened at Jamvaly Hotel in Kebbi, bringing together stakeholders to discuss the optimization of the recently approved six-month paid maternity leave with full pay and mobilize continued support for the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF). The meeting, hosted by Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) with support from UNICEF, drew a diverse group of participants, including representatives from the State House of Assembly, government ministries, civil society organizations, healthcare professionals, and the media.

In her remarks, a CS-SUNN representative emphasized the critical need for improved investment in nutrition, citing the alarming statistics of malnutrition globally and in Nigeria. "Malnutrition affects one in three people worldwide, and Nigeria has the second-highest number of stunted children. It is imperative that we address this persistent public health concern for the well-being of Nigerians," she stressed.

The participants deliberated on the benefits of extending paid maternity leave to six months, noting that it would significantly enhance the health and well-being of both mothers and infants. They highlighted that longer leave periods would allow for exclusive breastfeeding, crucial for child development and maternal health. The meeting also underscored the importance of increasing the nutrition budget and ensuring timely release and utilization of funds, as well as leveraging innovative financing mechanisms like the UNICEF's Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) to support nutrition activities in the state.

The stakeholders reached a consensus on several key resolutions, including:

- Working closely with the Kebbi State Government to ensure the smooth implementation and optimization of the extended maternity leave policy, including ensuring job security and a supportive workplace for working mothers.

- Adequate monitoring and evaluation of all pronouncements and commitments on nutrition activities in the state, including the implementation of the six-month paid maternity leave.

- Operationalizing the Guidelines on the specific roles and responsibilities of relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and Civil Society Organizations to empower women and ensure maternity protection.

- Strengthening coordination by the State Council on Food and Nutrition (SCFN) on actualizing the multi-sectoral plan of action for nutrition in the state.

- Promoting effective and innovative reporting to highlight critical issues that can spur political will and support for nutrition activities.

- Maintaining continuous dialogue with the House of Assembly to secure support for nutrition activities and emphasizing the oversight function of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security to ensure the effective use of budgeted nutrition funds.

The participants expressed their commitment to taking the necessary actions to realize the benefits of the policy extension and increased funding for nutrition activities in the state, ultimately enhancing the welfare of working mothers and children in Kebbi State.