Vice President Kashim Shettima has announced an immediate call for proposals on advancing innovative solutions for maternal, newborn, and child health.
The call was made at the inauguration of the ‘Grand Challenges Nigeria’ (GCNg) in Abuja.
GCNg is a national innovation programme aimed at revolutionising Nigeria’s healthcare landscape through locally-developed solutions.
The initiative will focus on maternal and child health challenges in its first phase and will integrate with existing government healthcare initiatives, including the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) and the Nutrition 774 programme.
Shettima emphasised that the initiative would address various challenges, from infectious diseases to food security and climate resilience.
He noted that the programme promised a transformative Nigeria where every child had access to proper nutrition, every family could rely on the quality of the healthcare system, and public health metrics continued to improve year after year.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, said the Grand Challenges Nigeria was aimed at developing local solutions to critical issues confronting Nigerians.
He noted that the model aligned with President Tinubu’s 8-point agenda using innovation to drive prosperity and growth.
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Rep. Chike Okafor, commended the commitment and dedication of the Federal Government to the inauguration of the initiative.
He pledged the support of the House of Representatives for the Grand Challenges Nigeria framework.
Muhammad Sanusi II, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, emphasised that addressing malnutrition and food insecurity required collective efforts and focused actions.
He expressed optimism that the Grand Challenges Nigeria initiative would empower Nigerians to take the lead in finding solutions to the country’s problems.
Sanusi II, a traditional ruler, thanked the Federal Government for supporting the initiative and commended Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s leadership as chairman of the Nutrition Council of Nigeria.
Prof. Salisu Abubakar, President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, noted that the initiative would help address health challenges by leveraging locally developed solutions.
He pledged the society’s support in ensuring that the solutions adopted are inclusive and adaptable to Nigerians, particularly in improving their health and wellbeing.
Uju Rochas-Anwulah, Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, stated that the inauguration of Grand Challenges Nigeria reflected the administration’s commitment to reform the economy and ensure food security.
She emphasised that the initiative would harness resources and expertise from the grassroots, adopting an inclusive approach that considered the perspectives of stakeholders at all levels.
