Dangote, Gates Foundations Donate $100 Million to Battle Malnutrition in Nigeria.

The Dangote Foundation and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have announced a combined financial package of $100 million over the next five years (2016-2020) towards ending malnutrition in Nigeria which  is expected to improve the lives of at least five million families by 2020.

Chairman of Dangote Foundation, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, speaking the official signing of the pledge with Co-chair Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, noted that tackling malnutrition in children has been identified as critical in reducing infant mortality.

Dangote said Nigeria had the second highest level of acute malnutrition at 18 per cent, globally as well as 37 per cent of chronic malnutrition rate, also second highest globally.

“Acutely malnourished children often fall very ill and die, and at least half of all children under the age of five years that die in Nigeria do so as a result of underlying or overt malnutrition.”

The two foundations said they will begin a joint planning process to determine the details of the partnership. Programs will include community-based approaches and proven interventions linked to behavioural change, fortification of staple foods with essential micro-nutrients, the community management of acute malnutrition and investments in the local production of nutritious foods.

A key objective will be to improve the livelihoods of households by supporting nutrition-sensitive agricultural programs that can increase family income, improve diets and empower women and youth.

Dangote said however that the government would need to make its own input to the success of the initiative.