The Nigerian government has reaffirmed its commitment to a nationwide scale-up of nutrition interventions to address both under nutrition and over nutrition. This pledge was made during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Clinical Nutrition Conference, organized by the West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, Health Services and Environmental Secretariat, and the National Hospital Abuja.

In his address at the conference on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, Dr. Abata Emmanuel, the Director of Food and Nutrition, spoke on behalf of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate. He described malnutrition not simply as a health issue but as a pandemic that must be urgently addressed. “This year’s theme is timely and cogent,” he stated, emphasizing the federal government's commitment to decentralizing nutrition treatment into communities.

Dr. Abata underscored the collective responsibility to ensure that nutrition support extends beyond hospital discharge, promoting seamless continuity of care in communities. He announced plans to enhance programs for healthcare professionals to tackle the malnutrition burden effectively. “Together, let us build an ecosystem where Nigerians, regardless of location, can receive holistic nutritional care,” he urged.

As part of the conference under the theme "Bridging the Gap: Integrating Hospital and Community Malnutrition Care in Developing Countries," participants gathered to discuss innovative solutions to address this critical public health challenge.