By Nasir Shuaibu, Bauchi
The Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), Bauchi Chapter, has commended the Bauchi State Government for its commitment to improving nutrition while urging the timely release of budgeted funds for the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) to sustain efforts at tackling malnutrition.
The commendation came during the coalition’s quarterly advocacy and budget performance tracking visit to the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Board (BSPHCB) under the UNICEF-supported Partnerships on Increasing Investment in Nutrition Project.
Speaking during the visit, the State Coordinator of CS-SUNN, Dabis Mwalike praised the Executive Chairman and management of the Board for their commitment to combating malnutrition across the state.
She also lauded Bauchi State for receiving recognition from UNICEF at the recent Strategic Policy Dialogue held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where the state was acknowledged for providing state and local government counterpart funding for the Child Nutrition Fund.
Dabis stressed that the Child Nutrition Fund was designed as a sustainable intervention rather than a one-off programme, calling on the state government to maintain budgetary allocations and ensure the timely release of funds for the CNF and other critical nutrition interventions to maximise their impact.
The coordinator also informed the Board of the emergence of a new leadership for CS-SUNN in Bauchi State and reaffirmed the coalition’s commitment to supporting the government’s nutrition agenda through sustained advocacy and collaboration. She urged the Board to strengthen its partnership with the coalition to improve the nutritional status of women and children across the state.
Responding, the Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Board appreciated CS-SUNN for its continued advocacy and support for nutrition programmes in the state.
He disclosed that the Bauchi State Government had allocated ₦500 million for the Child Nutrition Fund in the 2026 budget, although the funds had yet to be released.
The Chairman reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to working closely with CS-SUNN and other stakeholders to improve nutrition outcomes for women and children and to sustain ongoing efforts aimed at reducing malnutrition across Bauchi State.
