By Gabriel Ameh
Nigeria intensified its fight against hunger and malnutrition on Monday as the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), in collaboration with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), officially launched the Zero Hunger Initiative during a high-level media lunch at the Wells Carlton Hotel, Asokoro, Abuja.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of Amb. Dr. Laylah Ali Othman , who was representated by Gbubemi Uba, emphasized the urgency of Nigeria’s hunger crisis. Despite the nation’s abundant natural resources, she noted that nearly 25 million Nigerians face food insecurity annually, with children under five most affected by stunting, wasting, and long-term developmental setbacks. She described hunger as “not just a health issue, but a national development emergency”, adding that the Zero Hunger Campaign is both a moral obligation and a national imperative.
Uba highlighted the significance of the Zero Hunger Lunch as a platform for dialogue and collaboration, stressing that the event symbolizes a collective vision where no Nigerian goes to bed hungry. She introduced the NRCS Mothers’ Club Model, a grassroots, community-driven solution that positions mothers at the center of food security and household nutrition.
The Mothers’ Club Model, she explained, promotes community ownership, practical nutrition education, kitchen gardens, small-scale farming, cooperative savings, microenterprises, breastfeeding support, and early detection of malnutrition. Its strength lies in its affordability, scalability, cultural relevance, and sustainability. “Mothers are the first line of defense against hunger,” she said. “Empower a mother, and you empower a family; empower families, and you strengthen a nation.”
Taking the podium, Abubakar Ahmed, Secretary General of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, personally delivered his address and formally launched the Zero Hunger Initiative. He stated that Africa remains at the heart of the global hunger crisis, with more than 282 million Africans undernourished, and Sub-Saharan Africa accounting for nearly one-third of that figure. He described the initiative as a comprehensive, ambitious effort designed to address the cyclical nature of shocks and crises that erode the food systems of vulnerable households.
Ahmed outlined the initiative’s integrated approach rehabilitation of water points, restoration of ecosystems, climate-smart and nutrition-sensitive agriculture, enhancement of value chains, improved access to financial services, and reinforcement of community self-help groups such as Mothers’ Clubs. He emphasized the importance of anticipatory action and shock-responsive social protection to ensure that communities can adapt to environmental and socioeconomic challenges.
“We are not launching a slogan we are launching a movement,” Ahmed declared. He urged the media to spotlight stories of resilience and transformation from grassroots communities, shifting national discourse from problems to possibilities. He called on government ministries to scale up what works, encouraged the private sector to invest in long-term solutions, and appealed to donors to support expansion across Nigeria’s most vulnerable regions. “Hunger is not destiny,” he said. “It is a challenge and challenges are defeated when nations unite.”
In her goodwill message, Gloria Kunyenga, Programme Coordinator of IFRC Abuja, reaffirmed IFRC’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in tackling hunger through sustainable, community-centered solutions. She praised the Mothers’ Club Model as a powerful demonstration of local capacity and resilience, noting that when communities lead, long-term solutions become more achievable. She expressed IFRC’s readiness to deepen collaboration with NRCS, government agencies, private-sector partners, and humanitarian stakeholders to ensure the initiative reaches every community in need.
The launch ended with a united call to action: for government, private sector, development partners, media, and citizens to recognize that achieving Zero Hunger is a collective responsibility. Speakers agreed that hunger in Nigeria is not inevitable and that with sustained effort, innovation, and community leadership, the Zero Hunger Initiative can transform lives and secure a future where nutritious meals are accessible to every Nigerian family.
