A recent report by UNICEF revealed that severe child food poverty in Nigeria is at 32 per cent, putting many children at risk of chronic diseases and stunted growth. The economic situation is expected to worsen childhood malnutrition, leading to underweight children and low intelligence levels.
65 per cent of the 181 million children facing food poverty globally are from Nigeria, with 12 million children under five in Nigeria experiencing stunting due to malnutrition. This poses severe consequences on child survival, physical growth, and cognitive development.
Experts warn that child food poverty is detrimental to child undernutrition, leading to an increase in child stunting, which impacts mortality rates and cognitive development. Malnutrition also poses risks of chronic illnesses and reduced productivity in adulthood.
As the cost of a healthy diet rises due to inflation in Nigeria, concerns about child hunger continue to grow. Health professionals emphasize the importance of quality nutrition for proper brain development and overall growth, highlighting the long-term consequences of food poverty on children’s health and future potential.
To address this crisis, experts call on the government to take urgent measures to ensure access to nutritious food for children and implement policies that promote food security and adequate nutrition for all.