President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has promised to fight malnutrition especially among children with therapeutic food.
To this end, the Group will enter into agreement with governments, local governments and local producers of Nutri-K’s Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to guarantee adequate supply directly to primary healthcare centres that treat severe an acute malnutrition (SAM) on sustainable bases.
He, who said this at the inauguration of multi-million-naira Nutrik-Dansa factory that will produce therapeutic food in Kano, recalled the idea as one of the visions of his late brother, and expressed happiness for the realisation of the vision, which will be sustained.
“I recall my late brother Sani telling me that he would start local production of RUTF in Kano, to complement the Foundation’s efforts at fighting malnutrition in Nigeria.
“I am glad his vision has come to fruition today. He was a visionary leader and his legacy lives on. … I commend the board and management of the company for the bold initiative of building this new and massive factory dedicated to the manufacturing of RUTF that will revolutionize the fight against hunger and rare acute malnutrition in Nigeria
“…Nigeria needs to end the scourge of this severe acute malnutrition and the establishment of this factory today takes us closer to that goal and I am sure we will achieve that very soon.”
Quoting the World Bank, Dangote said malnutrition is one of the most serious development challenges, and can have a lifetime effect on a child.
“The first few years of a child are very crucial for growth and development.”
“According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), well-nourished children are 33% more likely to escape poverty as adults.
Malnutrition is one of the most serious development challenges, and can have a lifetime effect on a child.
“On the other hand, childhood malnutrition can lead to life time consequences including lower IQ, poor social emotional skills and weaker immune system, so it is very important; it is not a joke” he stated.
Dangote also said the production of RUTF in Nigeria is important because it is one of the strategic achievements of the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF), which is to reduce the number of lives lost to malnutrition.
He declared that combatting the plight of children is at the core of the ADF, as a way of improving the lives of children using their investment in health, education and economic empowerment.
