Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that the recently held third annual CEO Forum was mainly to review the significant progress made in fortifying Nigerian staple foods with micronutrients that are essential to achieving better health and nutrition for all
As Nigeria battles increasing food insecurity and malnutrition, the country’s leading CEOs from major food processing companies recently joined government and international development leaders in a virtual forum to review progress on fortification of staple foods with micronutrients that are essential to good health and nutrition.
During the virtual forum, key points like the latest data on industry compliance in fortifying staple foods with key micronutrients; updates on commitments made by all stakeholders during the 2019 forum; updates on the Micronutrient Fortification Index (MFI), a corporate fortification quality index that supports industry self-monitoring, and other governance innovations; and exclusive announcement of increases in the share of fortified food accessible to Nigerian consumers over the last three years—critical progress in a time of growing national food insecurity, were discussed.
Indices
Worldwide, more than 2 billion people suffer from micronutrient malnutrition—deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals that are integral to healthy growth and development. Fortifying staple foods—such as oil, flour, salt and sugar—with vitamins and minerals has been proven to be one of the most cost-effective and scalable tools to combat malnutrition and save lives.
According to data provided by the forum, one out of three Nigerian children under five are stunted—their bodies and brains deprived of
the key nutrients they need to fully develop to reach their full potential. Over the long-term,
stunting results in a 10 to 17 percent loss of wages.
When multiplied across the nation, it’s
estimated that Nigeria loses more than US$1.5 billion in GDP annually as a result of diminished
productivity and increased healthcare costs.
“If Nigeria is really serious about creating jobs, expanding its markets and growing its economy,
nutrition and food systems should be put in the centre of the conversation” said Larry Umunna,
West Africa Regional Director, TechnoServe.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 50 studies found that large-scale fortification programs in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) have led to dramatic reductions in serious disease in those countries, helping to achieve a 34 per cent reduction in anemia from improved iron stores; a 74 per cent reduction in goitre and a significant reduction in iodine deficiency; a 41 per cent decrease in neural tube defects due to reductions of folate deficiency among women of reproductive age; and an approximate reduction in vitamin A deficiency (VAD) for three million children (0-9 years), significantly reducing their risk of mortality.
Inception of Micronutrient Fortification Index
Since its inaugural meeting in 2018, the forum has led to the development of several initiatives including a corporate fortification quality index -The Micronutrient Fortification Index (MFI) in support of industry-led processes of tracking and corporate reporting of progress on fortification to its shareholders and stakeholders, and a government-led Joint Regulatory Framework that signals a new commitment by Nigeria’s three regulatory agencies- National Agency for Food & Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) – to work more efficiently, in support of industry efforts and consumer expectations.
Review
Recently, a virtual meeting was held to review the progress made, foster a strategic understanding of the short and long-term impacts of the pandemic on the food processing industry and key policy and operational implications and opportunities for fortification.
The essence of this move was not lost on stakeholders. Each year, poor nutrition costs Nigeria over US$1.5 billion in GDP and hinders the health and economic potential of Nigerian citizens and the nation. Thus, fortifying staple foods like oil, flour, salt, and sugar with key micronutrients is one of the most scalable, sustainable, and cost-effective tools to combat malnutrition.
Themed the “Third Annual Nigerian Food Processors and Nutrition Leadership Forum”, participants were the Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo; Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire
Bill Gates – Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; President and CEO, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; high-level Nigerian and international executives across the public and private sector.
The forum was organised by the Aliko Dangote Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), and the global non-profit TechnoServe, under the Strengthening African Processors of Fortified Foods (SAPFF) project.
The project aims to address the lingering challenges in the food fortification sector using a market-based approach to help more than 90 food processors increase their capacity to produce and sell fortified foods to local markets.
Accordingly, when the company CEOs gathered at third annual forum to review progress and areas of renewed focus, it was following three years of leadership engagement by the federal government and CEOs of the nation’s largest food processing companies. At the virtual meeting,
it was stressed that significant progress has been made fortifying Nigerian staple foods with micronutrients that are essential to achieving better health and nutrition for all.
The data was presented by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who chaired the event with Bill Gates participating by video conference. According to data presented by international non-governmental organisation TechnoServe, companies have significantly improved their compliance with food fortification standards in the span of three years.
Together, these producers reach more than 90 per cent of the Nigerian population. From 2017 to 2020, the population reached with wheat flour fortified with iron and folic acid increased from 54 per cent to 92 per cent; the population reached with sugar fortified with Vitamin A increased from 31 per cent to 96 per cent; and salt iodisation levels were maintained at 95 per cent.
“The private sector remains the engine of growth for the Nigerian economy. By creating a common set of compliance standards, while also giving companies the tools they need to effectively fortify their foods, we are creating a sustainable path to delivering Nigerians food that will help them live healthier, more productive lives. Better nutrition for our consumers means better health and economic development for our nation,” Dangote posited.
It was also gathered that edible oil fortified with Vitamin A also made progress, but to a lesser degree, with the population reached with fortified cooking oil increasing from 25 per cent to 32 per cent. Unlike the other staples, however, the edible oil companies participating in the CEO forum represent closer to 40 per cent of the nation’s total production volume.
To put the scale of these achievements in perspective, an additional 125.7 million Nigerians now have access to sugar fortified with vitamin A; an additional 73.5 million have access to wheat flour fortified with iron and folic acid; and an additional 13.8 million have access to cooking oil fortified with vitamin A.
“Given the impacts of COVID-19 on our economy, I am particularly impressed with the leadership we have seen from our food companies,” said Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment.
“Our industry leaders have shown that even during an international public health crisis and an economic crisis, we can still deliver good nutrition for all citizens, including our poorest, through production and distribution of widely consumed fortified staple foods.”
The efforts are part of the Strengthening African Processors of Fortified Foods (SAPFF) project focused on increasing consumer access to adequately fortified foods, implemented by TechnoServe with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Significant work remains to achieve project goals and maximise public health impact. Of particular emphasis is working to sustain progress and to ensure that fortified cooking oil achieves similar success.
“Vitamin A is one of the most critical nutrients kids need to grow up healthy—but too few kids receive a sufficient amount in their diet,” said Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
“The world needs to fortify more foods with Vitamin A. The leaders in this meeting have already shown what’s possible for wheat flour, salt, and sugar. I hope that by the next time we meet, cooking oil will be added to the list.”
One reason for the slower progress is that the edible oil industry is less centralised than other staple foods, requiring coordination across more stakeholders.
TechnoServe will be working on further technical assistance to oil millers who want to participate in the multi-stakeholder effort. In addition, they will support relevant government agencies to improve its efforts on regular testing of imported edible oil at the ports of entry.
Strengthening Industry Compliance
According to the forum, to strengthen industry-wide compliance, TechnoServe has been working with private sector partners to launch Nigeria’s first-ever Micronutrient Fortification Index (MFI).
The MFI helps companies assess compliance with Nigerian Fortification Standards. Companies’ overall scores are presented in a dashboard that is updated annually to show progress and gaps, contributing to an industry-wide platform that emphasizes quality standards.
The forum also reviewed progress on the development of the Joint Regulatory Framework (JRF), which would coordinate the enforcement of industry activities by the National Agency for Food & Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
Value Chain Givers
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett. To learn more, visit www.gatesfoundation.org
Whereas, Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) on the other hand is the private charitable foundation of Aliko Dangote. Incorporated in 1994, as Dangote Foundation, with the mission to enhance opportunities for social change through strategic investments that improve health and wellbeing, promote quality education, and broaden economic empowerment opportunities. 20 years later, the foundation has become the largest private foundation in sub-Saharan Africa, with the largest endowment by a single African donor.
At the international level and beyond the foundation provides financial and technical support to a number of continental and global initiatives and platforms/institutions to strengthen nutrition integration into their developmental portfolio and pipelines. The foundation embraces investments in education as fundamental to the development of a nation’s human capital and the capacity of an individual to earn. Based in Lagos, Nigeria, the foundation is led by the MD/CEO Ms Zouera Youssoufou under the direction of Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON.
Meanwhile, TechnoServe is a leader in harnessing the power of the private sector to help people lift themselves out of poverty. A non-profit organisation operating in nearly 30 countries worldwide, we partner with hard-working women and men in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. By linking people to information, capital, and markets, we have helped millions to create lasting prosperity for their families and communities.
Founded over 50 years ago, TechnoServe has been named the #1 nonprofit for fighting poverty by the ImpactMatters charity ratings agency.
