In a bold move to combat child malnutrition and food insecurity, Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has pledged to increase funding for child nutrition initiatives.
The governor made the announcement during a high-level roundtable discussion on scaling up the Tom Brown nutrient-dense product, organized by the Borno State Government in collaboration with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Abuja.
Tom Brown, a locally produced food supplement, is specifically designed to address malnutrition among children under five and lactating mothers.
To strengthen this effort, Governor Zulum also revealed plans to establish a Tom Brown production facility in the state, aimed at enhancing food and nutrition security, empowering local farmers, and creating job opportunities.
“I want to assure you that Borno State will increase its funding portfolio to the child nutrition basket fund,” Zulum stated, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to tackling malnutrition and improving social and economic resilience.
According to him, Borno State has been at the forefront of food security initiatives, working with FAO and other development partners to implement the Tom Brown program.
He called on the federal government and relevant agencies to support nutrition-sensitive policies and prioritize locally produced food supplements in line with the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan.