Health and nutrition experts have called for stronger media engagement to address maternal malnutrition and improve national wellbeing.

The call was made at the fifth anniversary of News Balance Media, featuring a Maternal Nutrition Outreach on Saturday in Abuja.

The Team Lead of News Balance Media, Bukola Afeni, urged government and health stakeholders to prioritise maternal nutrition.

“No woman or child should be left behind in health, nutrition and dignity,” she said, stressing equitable access to essential nutrition services.

She added that maternal nutrition was foundational for healthy pregnancies and thriving children.

Afeni noted that 7.3 million adolescent girls and women of reproductive age in Nigeria are undernourished, adding that this posed health risks for mothers and newborns.

She said Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate remains among the highest globally, with 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Poor maternal nutrition contributes to low birthweight, preterm births and childhood undernutrition, affecting growth, cognitive development and future productivity.

Afeni disclosed that News Balance Media, in partnership with Health Communication and Visibility, visited two IDP camps in Abuja to deliver maternal and child nutrition support.

Mrs Judith Ugbodu of NOI Polls noted the lack of male involvement in maternal care, stressing that men influences household food and healthcare decisions.

She said cultural norms often prioritise men’s nutrition, leaving women with limited control over meals and household decisions.

Ugbodu encouraged practical solutions such as home gardens and passing nutrition knowledge from mothers to daughters for generational behavioural change.

She also highlighted the need for simplified, culturally appropriate messaging, citing the Baby-Friendly Initiative as a successful example of multilingual awareness campaigns.

Mr Opeyemi Adeola, a media personnel, decried government neglect of the media sector, noting that rising operational costs threatens traditional journalism’s survival.

He said unchecked social media content undermines credible reporting, but traditional media remain crucial for community-focused development messaging.

Adeola called for government fiscal incentives and policy support to enable media houses to communicate effectively in local languages.

Mrs Adeola Oyegunle, representative of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), said poverty, food insecurity, cultural beliefs and poor antenatal attendance worsen maternal nutrition in Nigeria.

She noted that households often survive on a single income, food production is disrupted by insecurity, and traditional diets hinder healthier practices.

She stressed that poor maternal nutrition perpetuates a cycle of malnutrition, with children born undernourished growing into malnourished adolescents and adults, with consequences to national development.

She emphasised the role of media in promoting nutrition programmes by simplifying nutrition information for mothers, combating harmful cultural beliefs, holding government accountable, and encouraging healthy dietary behaviors.

She urged government, donors and civil society to strengthen health systems, empower communities and scale up nutrition interventions.

She noted that the NSN Strategic Plan 2022–2024 prioritises education, research, advocacy, evaluation and capacity-building for frontline health workers and community organisations.

Dr Ladidi Bako, Director of Nutrition, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, represented by Mrs Beatrice Orume, said 58 per cent of women are malnourished.

The director stressed the media’s role in promoting nutrition programmes, simplifying messages, challenging harmful beliefs, and encouraging healthy diets.

She reiterated government’s commitment to nutrition through policies such as MIYCN training, supplementation, malaria prevention, the Child Nutrition Fund and community health interventions.

She acknowledged challenges including food insecurity, climate change and supply chain gaps, but noted progress through breastfeeding campaigns and the Zero Water initiative.

Dr Ehiz Odigie, a medical expert, said many Nigerians do not understand micro- and macronutrients or the importance of a balanced diet, noting that diets remain heavily carbohydrate-based.

She stressed the need for nutrition messages to be localised, contextualised and culturally relevant, especially for women with limited knowledge of pregnancy-related nutrition.

“When women understand how nutrients affect their health, they take ownership and act,” she said, highlighting links between nutrition and family planning.

The 2025 conference brought together health professionals, development partners, caregivers, mothers, media practitioners and advocates to highlight maternal nutrition in national development.