Abia’s Plate of Progress Serving Up Nutrition for Every Child: Inside the Otti Administration’s Holistic Strategy to Combat Malnutrition and Boost Development
When Governor Alex Otti assumed office in May 2023, Abia State faced a critical challenge: nearly 22% of children under five suffered from stunted growth, a grim marker of chronic malnutrition. For Otti, a former banker turned reformist leader, and his wife, Priscilla, a public health advocate, tackling this crisis became a cornerstone of their governance. Over the past two years, their administration has woven a multifaceted strategy—blending policy, partnerships, and grassroots mobilization—to rewrite Abia’s nutrition narrative.
Reviving School Feeding, Building Futures
One of the administration’s first moves was resurrecting the state’s moribund school feeding program. Drawing from the 2024 budget’s increased allocation to education and health, the government partnered with NGOs like UNICEF and the Tony Elumelu Foundation to deliver daily meals to 120,000 primary school pupils. “A child cannot learn on an empty stomach,” Otti declared at the program’s relaunch in Umuahia. The initiative not only targets hunger but also prioritizes nutrient-rich menus featuring locally sourced vegetables, eggs, and fortified grains. Early reports from pilot schools show a 15% jump in attendance, hinting at the program’s potential.
The First Lady’s Grassroots Crusade
While Otti focuses on systemic reforms, First Lady Priscilla Otti has taken the fight to communities. Her “Healthy Children, Brighter Future” campaign trains mothers in 17 local government areas on breastfeeding practices, affordable balanced diets, and detecting early signs of malnutrition. At a recent workshop in Aba, she demonstrated how to prepare protein-packed meals using readily available ingredients like soybeans and moringa. “Malnutrition isn’t just about poverty—it’s about knowledge,” she told a crowd of 500 mothers. Her office has also distributed over 50,000 vitamin A supplements and deworming tablets through mobile clinics.
In January 2025, Mrs. Otti reinforced this message during a visit to a Primary Healthcare maternity center in Aba South Local Government Area, where she advocated for exclusive breastfeeding while presenting gifts to the first baby of the year, Master Zeal Favour Chiudo, born at 12:08 am on January 1. The baby, weighing 3.5 kg at birth, and three others received baby kits and cash donations. “Exclusive breastfeeding benefits the child immensely, providing proper nutrients for growth,” she urged, highlighting Governor Otti’s commitment to improving primary healthcare. The mother, Mrs. Obiuto Favour, expressed gratitude, while the health center’s manager, Ms. Blessing Adanma, praised the First Lady’s dedication.
Later that day, Mrs. Otti visited the Federal Medical Centre in Umuahia, gifting three more newborns and emphasizing, “These children are God’s first blessings to Abia in 2025.” Commissioners for Women Affairs and Health, Dr. Maureen Aghukwa and Dr. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, alongside Aba South Mayor Obilor Anyanwu, commended her efforts, noting a decline in maternal and child mortality rates due to the administration’s healthcare investments.
From Farms to Forks: Strengthening Food Security
Long-term solutions, however, demand tackling food insecurity. The Otti administration has launched “Farm-to-Table,” a cooperative farming project that incentivizes smallholder farmers to grow nutrient-dense crops like sweet potatoes, spinach, and lentils. The state provides seedlings, low-interest loans, and guarantees to buy surplus harvests for school meals and public health centers. In Isuikwuato, a pilot cooperative saw yields triple within six months. “This isn’t charity; it’s sustainable economics,” said Dr. Ngozi Okoro, Abia’s Commissioner for Agriculture.
Policy as a Pillar: Institutionalizing Change
Behind the scenes, the government is crafting Abia’s first Child Nutrition Policy, a roadmap to embed feeding programs, maternal education, and healthcare partnerships into law. The draft policy, reviewed by The Guardian, mandates nutrition surveillance systems and allocates 5% of local government budgets to child health. It also proposes tax breaks for companies investing in fortified food production. “We’re building systems that outlive any administration,” Otti emphasized at a recent policy roundtable.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
Progress hasn’t been without hurdles. Limited federal funding and bureaucratic delays have slowed scaling, while some rural communities remain skeptical of government-led initiatives. Yet, early data offers hope: preliminary surveys by the National Bureau of Statistics show a 6% drop in stunting rates in Southeast Nigeria, with Abia contributing significantly. For the Ottis, this is just the start. “Our goal isn’t just to reduce numbers,” Priscilla Otti told Punch in January 2025. “It’s to raise a generation that thrives.”
As Abia’s children inch closer to that promise, the Otti blueprint—rooted in collaboration, innovation, and relentless advocacy—may well become a model for Nigeria’s fight against malnutrition.
*Sources:
Abia State Government,
UNICEF Nigeria,
National Bureau of Statistics,
PUNCH (January 2025), and verified media reports (2023–2025).
