By Bashir Hassan, Bauchi
May – 10, 2025
As part of efforts to address the growing burden of malnutrition in Bauchi State, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the State Government, has developed a draft Social Behaviour Change (SBC) Strategic Communication document for nutrition.
The initiative, spearheaded by the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office (BFO), was undertaken in partnership with the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency during a four-day technical workshop held at Hazibal Hotel Conference Centre between May 5 and 9, 2025.
The draft document, which aligns with the National SBC Strategy for Nutrition, aims to promote behaviour change across communities and improve nutritional outcomes. It identifies Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Community-Based Organisations (CBOs), Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs), professional bodies, and community resource groups as key drivers in its implementation.
Participants at the workshop included representatives from state ministries, academia, development partners, and non-governmental organisations. They commended the inclusive and multisectoral approach of the strategy, which targets all demographic groups—children, women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
Dabis Mwalike, Acting Executive Director of FAcE FAM, described the document as “a rich and comprehensive framework that offers a sustainable approach to tackling malnutrition through social and behavioural change.”
Kamal Ali Bello, of the Women, Child, Youth, Health and Education Initiative, said the strategy’s inclusivity ensures that no group is left behind, stressing the need for community-wide awareness and education on nutritional practices.
Also speaking, the Chairperson of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria in Bauchi State, Comfort Daniel, lauded UNICEF for facilitating a participatory process. She urged the state government to prioritize the adoption and implementation of the strategy.
The State Coordinator for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH), Binta Ladan, assured that the Bauchi State Government is committed to integrating the new SBC framework into its health programming to strengthen nutrition education and service delivery.
UNICEF Nutrition Officer, Dr. Jackson Martins, said the draft plan is part of a broader effort to localise the national SBC strategy over a five-year period, focusing on nutrition interventions throughout the life cycle. He described Bauchi’s stunting rate of 61.7 per cent as alarming, underscoring the urgency for targeted action.
Dr. Martins also commended the active engagement of stakeholders throughout the workshop, which he said was instrumental in developing the draft document.
The draft strategy is expected to undergo a validation process in the coming weeks before final adoption and rollout across the state.
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