FG advocates scale-up of lactation practices as 2025 World Breastfeeding Week holds
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to promoting optimal breastfeeding practices as a cornerstone of national health, nutrition security, and sustainable development.
During a high-level event held to commemorate the 2025 World Breastfeeding Week, (WBW) at the National Hospital, Abuja, Wednesday, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, CON, delivered a strategic national agenda aimed at scaling up breastfeeding practices and strengthening support systems in the country
Represented by Mrs. Ladidi-Bako Aiyegbusi Director/Head Nutrition Department in the Ministry, Prof. Pate declared that this year’s edition themed: “Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems,” is a strategic call to action.
He charged all stakeholders, including governments, health professionals, employers, families, and communities, to work together so as to build long-term structures that empower mothers, protecting children’s right to nutrition and survival.
“Breastfeeding is not the sole responsibility of women, but a shared obligation. It must be treated as a public health priority, a national development strategy, and a climate resilience measure,” Prof. Pate stated.
The Coordinating Minister emphasized that breastfeeding is not just about infant feeding, it delivers profound health, social, and economic benefits: “It reduces infant morbidity and mortality, It supports maternal health by lowering the risk of certain cancers, It lowers household medical expenses, It boosts workplace productivity, and It contributes to higher human capital and long-term economic gains.”
He described as alarming the statistics from the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), which reveals that only 29% of Nigerian infants are exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life, a percentage that is far below the global target of 50% and Nigeria’s national target of 80% by 2030.
Prof. Pate added that only 23% of babies are breastfed within one hour of birth, describing it as a very unhealthy decline from previous years.
The Minister who emphasized that the
statistics reveal a serious gap in supportive environments for breastfeeding mothers in all spheres of human endeavour outlined the following as government efforts to close up the gaps:
Training of healthcare workers – doctors, midwives, nurses, and community health workers;
Implementation of baby-friendly hospital initiatives,
Granting of 112-day paid maternity leave and two-hour daily breastfeeding breaks
for federal workers
until first year of baby’s life
14-day paternity leave for men to support mothers,
Enforcement of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (BMS) through NAFDAC to promote exclusive breastfeeding.
In a statement by Alaba Balogun, the Ministry’s Head of Information and Public Relations, Prof. Pate echoed this sentiment in closing: “If we get breastfeeding right, we take a giant step towards ending malnutrition, reducing poverty, building a resilient climate-smart nation, and securing a healthier, more prosperous Nigeria.”
On his part, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, emphasized that Nigeria must seize the moment to elevate breastfeeding as a national development imperative.
Represented at the event by Director, General Services Department, Alhaji Suleiman Umar, Dr. Salako stated: “This year, we are not just commemorating World Breastfeeding Week, we are marking a turning point. The theme challenges us to act at critical intersections of infant nutrition, climate resilience, and equity.”
He described breastfeeding as “nature’s first climate-smart food system”, noting that it produces zero waste, requires no packaging or transportation, and has no carbon footprint. In contrast, formula feeding contributes to environmental degradation, increases family expenses, and heightens infant vulnerability.
“We need more than good intentions, we need an interconnected system of support that includes trained health workers, breastfeeding-friendly workplaces, supportive families, and community champions,” he stressed.
Dr. Salako stated, “Health facilities – adopt and implement baby-friendly practices, Employers – provide enabling environments for nursing mothers, Community leaders – mobilize households to normalize breastfeeding, and Policymakers – increase budgetary support for maternal and child nutrition programs.”
“To every health worker, community leader, father, employer, policymaker, this is your call to action,” he said “Identify your role. Support our mothers. Protect our future.”
Goodwill messages were also presented by Representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, lauding Nigeria’s leadership and calling for expanded efforts to upscale breastfeeding practices in the country
Highlights of the event include the tour of maternity wards and interactions with breastfeeding mothers in the postnatal ward of the Hospital by the Representatives of the Ministers and Stakeholders; presentation of gift items to lactating mothers as well as their induction into the breastfeeding advocate club
