REGULATORY AGENCIES, PARTNERS CONVENE TO STRENGTHEN FOOD FORTIFICATION PROGRAMME IN NIGERIA
The Director General/Chief Executive of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, joined fellow heads of regulatory agencies and key stakeholders at a roundtable meeting in Abuja to advance the National Food Fortification Program. The meeting, held at the Transcorp Hilton, focused on strengthening collaboration and leveraging innovative approaches to combat malnutrition.
In his opening remark, Dr. Okeke emphasized the importance of strong partnerships between regulatory agencies, industry stakeholders, and development partners. He underscored SON’s commitment to advancing food fortification through standardization, monitoring, research, and capacity building, citing initiatives such as the Digital Fortification Quality Traceability Plus (DFQT+) and regional cooperation within the West African Fortification Alliance. He called for continued investment in innovation and technology to enhance national food fortification strategies and improve public health outcomes
The DGs’ Roundtable comprised the DGs of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), which play crucial roles in shaping food fortification policies and ensuring their effective implementation. This group works to impr-ove information sharing, knowledge exchange, and resource allocation to promote transparency and compliance with Nigeria’s food fortification standards and regulations across all levels—from factory to household.
A key highlight of the meeting was the presentation by Dr. Edede Ojomo on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) Large-Scale Food Fortification (LSFF) Innovation Fund. Dr. Ojomo outlined the project charter and application process, providing attendees with valuable information on accessing funds to support the adoption of innovative fortification practices.
Representing Prof. Moji Christiana Adeyeye, the DG of NAFDAC, Mrs. Eva Edwards, (Chairperson of the Core Group) , expressed satisfaction with the group’s progress in ensuring the safety and quality of fortified foods. She reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to stringent monitoring, regular inspections, and rigorous laboratory testing.
Mr. Olatunji Bello, Executive Vice Chairman of the FCCPC, represented by Dr. Nkechi Mbah, detailed the commission’s activities related to mandatory food fortification regulations & commended the group for their efforts in food fortification.
Dr. Michael Ojo, Country Director of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), stressed the importance of collaborative efforts and regulatory oversight in strengthening food fortificat-ion. He outlined the meeting’s key objectives: reviewing and adopting the revised Terms of Reference for the Joint Regulatory Agencies Director Generals Roundtable; launching the LSFF Innovations Fund; securing commitment for the next phase of the DFQT+ project; and receiving updates on other key initiatives, including the National Fortification Alliance (NFA) and the Promoting Rice Fortification in Nigeria (PRiFN) initiative.
Dr. Ojo highlighted GAIN’s dedication to supporting the Nigerian government and regulatory agencies through programs like DFQT+ and the LSFF Innovations Fund.
Dr. Rodio Diallo, Deputy Director of the Gates Foundation Nigeria Country Office, commended the Core Group for its critical role in coordinating efforts to reach those most in need, emphasizing food fortification as a powerful tool against malnutrition.
Mrs. Talatu Ethan, SON Director of Corporate Affairs, traced SON ‘s milestones of Food Fortification in Nigeria, the institutionalization of monitoring fortified foods at the factory level and huge investment in SON micronutrients laboratory. She stressed the need for expansion of the Core Group for each agency to include officers on relevant desks for the Food Fortification Project and related programs for sustainability and succession plan.
The meeting was attended by representatives from relevant government institutions, academia, and development
