Niger and UNICEF Urge Mothers to Adopt Breastfeeding Exclusively

The Niger State Government and the United Nations Children’s Education Fund are calling on women in Niger State to actively promote exclusive breastfeeding, as this practice enables families to raise healthy children and provides infants with a strong foundation for life.

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This appeal was made during the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week in Minna, where it was disclosed that the state's exclusive breastfeeding rate still lags behind the national average of 56 per cent.

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To raise awareness among state residents, particularly women, the government and UNICEF organized a road walk, which took place despite heavy rainfall, starting from the Kuta Memorial Primary Healthcare Centre on Old Airport Road and ending at the Obasanjo complex.

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The event, led by Daniel Jiya, Director of Food and Drugs at the Niger State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, aimed to educate women about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, especially during the first 1000 days of a child's life.

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Jiya explained that the purpose of commemorating World Breastfeeding Day is to emphasize the need for newborns to receive nutrients from their mothers' breast milk to ensure healthy growth and development.

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According to Jiya, the theme of the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week is "Exclusive Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthening What Works," and the celebration aims to sensitize mothers about the significance of exclusive breastfeeding for six months.

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Jiya stressed that during this period, mothers should only feed their babies breast milk, as it is rich in all the necessary nutrients, vitamins, and antibodies required for a child's sustainable growth and development.

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The director noted that the program includes a series of activities, starting with the road walk, followed by a flag-off ceremony on Monday, which will be attended by the wife of the state governor.

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These activities aim to ensure that women give birth under the supervision of skilled attendants and breastfeed their babies within the first hour after birth, with the goal of increasing the state's exclusive breastfeeding rate.

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Jiya stated that while the current compliance rate in Niger State is around 49 per cent, it is still below the national average of 56 per cent, and the government is working to improve this through sensitization programs.

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The campaign is supported by UNICEF and the United States government, and Jiya urged breastfeeding mothers to practice exclusive breastfeeding from the first day of their baby's birth to the first 1000 days of life.