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Africa Impact Summit, Accra.

As a Board member of the Access to Nutrition Initiative, Dr Ajieroh participated in the 2025 edition of the Africa Impact Summit in Accra. He moderated a session on Investing to …

Date

June 2025

Africa Impact Summit, Accra.

As a Board member of the Access to Nutrition Initiative, Dr Ajieroh participated in the 2025 edition of the Africa Impact Summit in Accra. He moderated a session on Investing to Transform Lives: Lessons and Opportunities in Agriculture and Food Security in Africa. On the overall, the Summit meetings strengthened the need to better engage and invest in the African food systems in the light of the potential transformative impact it holds in a continent where 80 percent of its population cannot afford a healthy diet. There are many promising innovations that can be scaled. The conversations and themes reflect the issues, challenges and opportunities we all know and are working on towards improving lives and livelihoods in Africa. There remain great opportunities for enhanced Impact Investing towards transforming markets and food systems for healthier diets and improved nutrition in Africa. And maximizing these opportunities would require strengthening the impact thesis for nutrition, building in nutrition themes and metrics into impact investing frameworks, driving engagement around evolving tools, and importantly building up a strong cohort of impact investors who see, understand and engage the nutrition and food systems pathways to sustainably transforming lives in Africa.

GAIN and Nutrition Connect, Cotonou.

As a jury member, Dr. Ajieroh joined the GAIN and Nutrition Connect Team on the Fortify Forward
Innovative Challenge Initiative that sought to turbocharge the African food fortification…

Date

June 2025

GAIN and Nutrition Connect, Cotonou.

As a jury member, Dr. Ajieroh joined the GAIN and Nutrition Connect Team on the Fortify Forward Innovative Challenge Initiative that sought to turbocharge the African food fortification ecosystem in ways that strengthened but also challenged existing paradigms, explored innovations in delivery mechanisms, identified promising research and evidence-based approaches, while strengthening engagement around local content, foods, entrepreneurs and expertise. The intentional focus on youth and women led SMEs was remarkable. Food and nutrition focused SMEs would remain key to addressing Africa’s evolving food systems challenges.

Towards a Food Systems-Transformative National Policy on Food and Nutrition in Nigeria

Author

Victor Ajieroh PhD, Joyce Akpata, Olutayo Toromade

Publication date

2025

Towards a Food Systems-Transformative National Policy on Food and Nutrition in Nigeria

Abstract

• A 2024 preliminary assessment of the National Policy on Food and Nutrition (2016-2025) found that about a third of its targets are roughly on track but that the policy needs to be updated to achieve its potential, and to take advantage of the opportunities provided through food systems transformation.

• Since the Policy would be due for full review in 2025, there is ample opportunity to evolve it to the current context and thinking.

• Some key areas a new national food and nutrition policy must expand on include: legislative frameworks, more relevant conceptual frameworks, resilience, engagement with the education sector, expanded partnerships, private sector responsibilities, wins for climate and nutrition, shifting demand away from unhealthier to healthier foods, food safety, rethinking trade policy, promoting innovation and technology, and being more responsive to the needs of women.

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Fostering an Enabling Environment for Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture and Food Systems in Nigeria

Author

Victor Ajieroh, Adeyinka Onabolu, Oluchi Ezekannagha, and Olutayo Adeyemi

Publication date

September 2023

Fostering an Enabling Environment for Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture and Food Systems in Nigeria

Abstract

Although recommendations exist for making agriculture and food systems nutrition sensitive, guidance about how to successfully operationalize these recommendations within national institutions is limited. Over the 13 years from 2010 to 2023, there were several undertakings to strengthen the enabling environment for sustainable nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA) and food systems in Nigeria. Some studies were also conducted over the period to foster better understanding of the national enabling environment and facilitate effective actions.
Objective:
This article documents successes and failures from Nigeria’s experiences by reflecting on critical developments, events, policies, and programmes on Nigeria’s journey toward advancing nutrition through agriculture and food systems; as well as findings from conducted studies.
Discussion:
Successes include the existence of a Nutrition and Food Safety Division in the Ministry of Agriculture and an approval for a Nutrition Department, existence of an agriculture sector nutrition strategy, increased private sector engagement and commitment to nutrition-sensitive food systems, and increased funding for nutrition in the agriculture sector. Challenges especially remain for scaling up strategic, operational, and delivery capacity of both organizations and individuals involved in advancing NSA and food systems. Lessons learned include—institutionalizing NSA and food systems takes time; knowledge brokering is indispensable and requires several collaborating entities and stakeholders; and approaches used should be suited to available government capacity.
Conclusion:
More than a decade of efforts targeting different enabling environment factors has resulted in greater political commitment for nutrition within the agriculture sector and an improved enabling environment for NSA and food systems.

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Evidence-Based Design Process for Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture Interventions: A Case Study of the Advancing Local Dairy Development Programme in Nigeria

Author

Ayodeji Ojo, MSc, Olutayo Adeyemi, PhD, Fisayomi Kayode, B.Agric, Olumide, Oyebamiji, MSc, Adeyinka Onabolu, PhD, Audu Grema, PhD, Kristen MacNaughtan MSc, Victor Ajieroh, PhD

Publication date

September 2023

Evidence-Based Design Process for Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture Interventions: A Case Study of the Advancing Local Dairy Development Programme in Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria is a significant contributor to the global burden of chronic undernutrition in children under 5 years of age. The undernutrition challenge constrains the productivity of rural households. This study was carried out among beneficiaries of the productivity-enhancing Nigerian Dairy Development Programme (NDDP) to guide incorporation of nutrition into the successor program—Advancing Local Dairy Development in Nigeria (ALDDN). Therefore, this study contributes to the literature about operationalizing nutrition-sensitive agricultural frameworks.

Objective:

The study sought to determine potential entry points for improving the nutrition of smallholder dairy farmers (≤ 5 milk cows) with a focus on food system entry points.

Methods:

Primary data were collected from 514 smallholder dairy households in Oyo and Kano states of Nigeria. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. Quantitative data collected included minimum dietary diversity for women, nutrition status, and socioeconomic characteristics of households. Qualitative data included information about sources of food, markets, and other food system characteristics. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistical tools and correlation analysis, while common themes were identified from qualitative data.

Conclusions:

The study showcased men’s important role in food purchase and consumption, particularly in Kano. Increasing opportunities and the ability of women to use nutrition education appeared necessary for translating knowledge into improved practices. The own consumption (i.e., the portion of the milk kept for households’ consumption as well as diversification of foods produced for consumption); income; women’s empowerment; and environmental sanitation pathways seemed to be the most feasible pathways for improving nutrition within the context of the study population.

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Stakeholders, Relationships, and Coordination: 2015 Baseline Study of Needed Enablers for Bridging Agriculture-Nutrition Gaps in Nigeria

Author

Olutayo Adeyemi, PhD, Victor Ajieroh, PhD, Larry Umunna, MSc, Francis Aminu, PhD, Adeyinka Onabolu, PhD

Publication date

September 2022

Stakeholders, Relationships, and Coordination: 2015 Baseline Study of Needed Enablers for Bridging Agriculture-Nutrition Gaps in Nigeria

Abstract

Background:Renewed efforts by the Nigerian government to address malnutrition have led to nutrition actions by several sectors, including the agriculture sector. However, the success of these actions depends on the characteristics of the stakeholders involved, including their relationships and coordination.
Objective:This article reports a 2015 study of nutrition-sensitive agricultural stakeholders in Nigeria that assessed what the stakeholders do, where they work and how they are organized to improve nutrition. The study provides a baseline for assessing progress and measuring stakeholder and coordination changes in the Nigerian nutrition-sensitive agriculture landscape.
Methods:Semi-structured interviews (n = 17) and focus group discussions (n = 2) were held with federal, state, and local government level stakeholders; reviews of stakeholder program documents were also conducted.
Results:The study identified 7 groups of nutrition-sensitive agriculture stakeholders and several coordination challenges. Political leadership, advocacy and provision of material and human resource support by nongovernmental organizations, and donor interest and funding have been vital for mobilizing nutrition-sensitive agriculture. Still, although stakeholders frequently highlighted that nutrition was an important consideration in their interventions, nutrition goals and activities and/or indicators to measure outcomes were not regularly communicated. Also, while coordination mechanisms existed, there appeared to be minimal actual cross-sectoral partnerships because of inadequate trust, competition, and conflicts over institutional turf and mandates.
Conclusions:Needed enablers for improving nutrition-sensitive agriculture in Nigeria included improved stakeholder nutrition literacy, as well as enhanced stakeholder engagement facilitated by role definition, clarification, and consensus. Exploring different approaches to coordination may also be necessary.

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RESOURCES

Programs, Events,
& Media

Africa Impact Summit, Accra.

Date

GAIN and Nutrition Connect, Cotonou.

Date

Towards a Food Systems-Transformative National Policy on Food and Nutrition in Nigeria

Author

Publication date

Fostering an Enabling Environment for Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture and Food Systems in Nigeria

Author

Publication date

Evidence-Based Design Process for Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture Interventions: A Case Study of the Advancing Local Dairy Development Programme in Nigeria

Author

Publication date

Stakeholders, Relationships, and Coordination: 2015 Baseline Study of Needed Enablers for Bridging Agriculture-Nutrition Gaps in Nigeria

Author

Publication date

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RESOURCES

Programs, Events, & Media

Africa Impact Summit, Accra.

Date

GAIN and Nutrition Connect, Cotonou.

Date

Towards a Food Systems-Transformative National Policy on Food and Nutrition in Nigeria

Author

Publication date

Fostering an Enabling Environment for Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture and Food Systems in Nigeria

Author

Publication date

Evidence-Based Design Process for Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture Interventions: A Case Study of the Advancing Local Dairy Development Programme in Nigeria

Author

Publication date

Stakeholders, Relationships, and Coordination: 2015 Baseline Study of Needed Enablers for Bridging Agriculture-Nutrition Gaps in Nigeria

Author

Publication date

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Community Engagement

Leadership Development

Food Systems, Nutrition and Basic Public Health Interventions

Influencing Policy, Finance and Communication

Data, Evidence and Analytics

Victor Ajieroh, Ph.D.

Lead Consultant & Founding DirectoR

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