Nigeria and Senegal Deepen Collaboration On Nutrition Governance: Minister Bagudu Opens Three-Day Technical Session In Abuja
On Monday, September 22, 2025, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu , delivered the welcome address at the Opening Ceremony of a Three-Day Technical Session with the Senegalese Mission to Nigeria on Experience Sharing in Public Financial Management Systems for Nutrition, held at the Abuja Continental Hotel.
In his remarks , Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, described Nigeria and Senegal as “brothers and sisters bound by history, culture, and contemporary ties,”adding with humor that “the Guinness World Record recently won by Hilda Bassey is evidence of Nigeria’s edge in our friendly jollof rivalry.”
The Minister emphasized that nutrition is not only a health concern but a constitutional and developmental priority. “Good nutrition is the single most important investment in human capital development,”he said. “Our Constitution, Nigeria Agenda 2050, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda all recognize that food security, with nutrition at its core, is a national priority.”
Highlighting the complexity of Nigeria’s federal system, with more than 800 budgets prepared annually across three tiers of government, Senator Bagudu noted the importance of coordination mechanisms such as the National Economic Council and the Presidential Food Systems Initiative. He also stressed that nutrition is a multisectoral challenge that extends beyond food and health to water, environment, climate change, and culture. “Many families eat what they can afford rather than what they need. That is why faith-based and community leaders must join hands with government to reshape behavior, especially for pregnant women and young children,” he said.
The Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry echoed this call for impact-driven budgeting: “Budgeting for food and nutrition is not an end in itself—it must translate into real outcomes. The true measure of success is not how much is allocated, but whether citizens become healthier, stronger, and more productive.”He pointed to ongoing reforms to embed nutrition into public financial systems under the Multisectoral Nutrition Strategic Plan.
The World Bank Country Director, Mr. Matthew Verghis, praised both governments for making nutrition a national priority. “The future of every nation’s economy is being shaped by the health of its children today,”he said. “Nigeria’s integration of nutrition into its Budget and Planning Ministry is commendable, while Senegal’s leadership in multisectoral early childhood development offers valuable lessons. Together, these approaches can inspire the region.”
In conclusion, Senator Bagudu reaffirmed Nigeria’s vision: “We deeply appreciate the World Bank and our development partners for supporting this collaborative approach. The lessons from this exchange will not only strengthen nutrition governance in Nigeria and Senegal but also resonate across ECOWAS, the African Union, and globally. Together, we are laying the foundation for healthier societies and a brighter future for our children.”
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