By Rebecca Caleb Maina
Gombe State joined the rest of the country to mark the 2025 National Nutrition Week, with health advocates urging residents to embrace sustainable eating habits that promote individual well-being and national productivity.
With the theme “Sustainable Nutrition for a Healthier and Productive Nigeria,” the commemoration was led by the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), Gombe State Chapter, in partnership with the State Committee on Food and Nutrition.
Faith-Based and School Outreach Take Centre Stage
Throughout the week, sensitisation teams visited worship centres to educate congregants on the value of balanced diets, exclusive breastfeeding, and early detection of malnutrition.
Schools across Gombe metropolis also opened their doors to nutrition officers who engaged pupils on the importance of consuming fruits, vegetables, and locally produced foods, a habit experts say can significantly boost long-term health outcomes.
Residents Take the Message to the Streets
The celebration reached its peak with a lively Nutrition Walk for Life, where participants trekked through major streets carrying placards advocating healthier lifestyles. The walk aimed to draw public attention to poor dietary practices contributing to preventable illnesses.
‘Eat Local, Live Better,’ Experts Advise
Chairman of the NSN Gombe Chapter, Mr. Solomon Hakeem, reminded residents that the state is naturally blessed with affordable, nutrient-rich produce such as millet, beans, moringa, vegetables, and groundnuts.
He expressed concern that many households prioritise selling these foods without retaining enough for family consumption. According to him, “A simple shift back to traditional diets rich in fibre and essential nutrients can transform health and save lives.”
Budget Ministry Calls for Conscious Food Choices
Representing the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Lorena Felix Gambo described the Nutrition Week as a wake-up call for Nigerians to rethink their eating habits.
She noted that poor nutrition drains national productivity and increases health expenditure, stressing the need for collaboration across families, schools, farmers, health professionals, and policymakers.
According to her, “When people eat well, they learn better, earn better, and live better.”
₦500 Million Boost for Malnourished Children
In her goodwill message, Gombe State CSSUNN Coordinator, Rebecca Caleb Maina, commended the recent release of ₦500 million into the Child Nutrition Fund, describing it as a timely intervention for children battling acute malnutrition.
She said the fund will support the procurement of life-saving ready-to-use therapeutic foods and strengthen community-based management of malnutrition, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
“This investment is a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment to safeguarding the future of our children,” she added.
A Call for Collective Action
Stakeholders agreed that achieving sustainable nutrition in Gombe requires collective responsibility—from homes to farms, schools to health facilities, and markets to policymaking tables.
The 2025 Nutrition Week ended with renewed optimism that if residents embrace healthier food practices, Gombe State will witness improved health outcomes, reduced malnutrition rates, and a more productive population.