State records 49% exclusive breastfeeding rate as officials intensify awareness drive to improve child nutrition and reach the national average

The Niger State Government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have intensified their Niger UNICEF Exclusive Breastfeeding Campaign, urging mothers to embrace exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life to give children a healthier start and improve the state’s child nutrition outcomes.

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The appeal was made during activities marking the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week in Minna, where officials disclosed that Niger State’s exclusive breastfeeding rate stands at 49 per cent, below the national average of 56 per cent.

To raise awareness, the state government and UNICEF organised a road walk despite heavy rainfall, with participants trekking from the Kuta Memorial Primary Healthcare Centre along Old Airport Road to the Obasanjo Complex in Minna.

The sensitisation campaign focused on educating women and families on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, particularly during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, a period widely recognised by health experts as critical to growth and cognitive development.

Speaking during the event, the Director of Food and Drugs at the Niger State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Daniel Jiya, said this year’s World Breastfeeding Week was themed “Exclusive Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthening What Works.”

“We are here to celebrate and commemorate the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week,” Jiya said.

“Exclusive breastfeeding celebration is to sensitise our mothers and breastfeeding mothers on the importance and significance of exclusively breastfeeding our babies and our children for six months.”

He explained that infants should receive only breast milk during the first six months because it contains all the nutrients, fluids and protective antibodies required for healthy development.

“During those periods of exclusive breastfeeding we sensitise women not to give anything apart from the breast milk because the breast milk is rich and sufficient in all the nutrients that the child will need.

It is also sufficient and rich in the liquid that the body of the child will need,” he said.

Jiya added that breast milk provides essential vitamins, proteins and antibodies that strengthen children’s immune systems and support healthy growth.

He outlined activities planned for the week, including a formal flag-off by the wife of the Niger State Governor and expanded community outreach programmes encouraging women to deliver under the supervision of skilled birth attendants.

“We will also try to ensure that the women put the children they gave birth to, to breast milk at least one hour after childbirth,” he said.

Although he acknowledged that compliance levels remain difficult to measure precisely, Jiya said available data showed encouraging progress.

“Breastfeeding in Niger State is about 49 per cent. We have not yet reached the national average but we are working very hard to be able to reach the national average.

It is part of the reason why we are having this sensitisation programme. The national average is about 56 per cent,” he explained.

He further urged mothers to sustain exclusive breastfeeding from birth and continue appropriate infant feeding practices throughout the first 1,000 days, describing the period as critical to laying a strong foundation for lifelong health.

Jiya disclosed that the campaign in Niger State is being supported by UNICEF and the United States Government, reflecting continued collaboration between development partners and the state government to improve maternal and child health outcomes.

Nigeria has continued to promote exclusive breastfeeding as a key public health intervention to reduce infant mortality, improve nutrition and strengthen children’s immunity.

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Health authorities recommend that babies receive only breast milk for the first six months before the gradual introduction of complementary foods while breastfeeding continues.