SOUTH WEST RECORDS OVER 1.5 MILLION STUNTED CHILDREN, SAYS UNITED NATIONS

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However, in his speech, Ogun  State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dayo Adeneye, emphasised the need to intensify effort to reduce stunting through proper nutrition, especially now that Nigeria was at a critical stage of malnutrition.

Adeneye pointed out that, proper nutrition is germane to human growth, adding that a well-nurtured generation will contribute meaningfully to the development of its society.

“It is quite alarming to note that a large percentage of the young children in Nigeria is either undernourished or micro-nutrient deficient, while some even suffer from over-nourishment, otherwise called obesity’, he said.

“We cannot continue to fold our hands and stand aloof with such issues staring us in the face, most especially, when those affected are vulnerable in society.These are under five, who have no voice and are definitely looking up to us to proffer solutions to their plights,”, Adeneye said.

The Commissioner noted that the Overview of National Nutritional Level indicates that 80 per cent of the world’s stunted children live in 14 countries, saying Nigeria has the second highest burden of stunting after India.