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ABUJA – Nigeria now has a clear pathway to ending hidden hunger through everyday staple foods, the Country Director of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Dr Michael Ojo, said yesterday at the close-out of the Strengthening Nutrition in Priority Staples (SNIPS) project.

Speaking at the ceremony in Abuja, Ojo said the five-year initiative funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented with the Green Innovation Centre (GIC) has “proven that the foods Nigerians eat every day can nourish, not just fill them”.

“When SNIPS began in 2021, Nigeria faced a pressing nutrition crisis,” he said.

“Millions depended on staples that provided calories but insufficient micronutrients. SNIPS was born to bridge these gaps and ensure everyday foods become vehicles for better nutrition, stronger livelihoods, and greater resilience.”

Ojo shared emotional stories from beneficiaries across Oyo and Benue States. One farmer, Mama Dupe from Oyo, embraced vitamin A cassava and told project officials:

“Before, cassava was just cassava. Now, with this yellow variety, my children eat it and I know it is building them, not just filling them.”

A young processor in Benue, Idyu, also narrated how the project transformed her business: “I never thought my small business could grow into a brand. SNIPS gave me more than equipment it gave me confidence.”

According to Ojo, the project delivered measurable gains across Benue, Kaduna, Nasarawa and Oyo States: 9,633 farmers adopted vitamin A maize, vitamin A cassava and orange-fleshed sweet potato, producing 41.6 million kg of nutrient-rich staples; 978 community seed growers trained and certified by NASC; and 625 MSMEs integrated an average of 644 kg of biofortified crops into their production lines quarterly.

Also, 32 MSMEs expanded operations with microgrants of ₦2–₦4 million; 30 businesses secured regulatory approval for market entry; and 40,000 Nigerians reached through behaviour-change campaigns.

“These results speak to nutritional resilience, economic sustainability and true food system transformation,” he said.

“We’ve shown that healthier diets can be built using culturally accepted Nigerian staples not foreign foods.”

Ojo acknowledged challenges such as weak access to finance, climate disruptions, and regulatory delays, but said the project yielded lasting lessons: Behaviour change takes time, but trust accelerates adoption; Market incentives not just knowledge drive sustained production; Local leadership is the backbone of resilience; and Women and youth are powerful champions of nutrition when equipped with resources.

Dr. Ojo issued three key appeals: To governments: Mainstream biofortification in agriculture, nutrition and school feeding policies; To the private sector: Keep investing in nutrient-enriched value chains; and To donors: Support integrated nutrition, climate resilience and livelihood programmes.

He pledged GAIN’s commitment to scaling SNIPS successes, strengthening nutritious food supply chains and expanding partnerships.

Earlier, the Senior Manager for Supply Chain and Commercialisation, Godwin Enu Ehiabhi, said the close-out does not signify an end to the work.

“People ask if it is over. No, it is not over,” he said.

“This project was never just about crops. It was about mothers regaining confidence, farmers finding purpose, and young entrepreneurs believing their products had a future.”

He recalled a Bayelsa mother whose feeding habits changed because of biofortified crops, and a young Kaduna processor who, after securing NAFDAC approval, told him:

“Sir, now I believe my product has a future.”

Representatives of the Oyo State Government, including the Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development, Barr. Olasunkanmi Olaleye, and the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Prof. Musibau Adetunji Babatunde praised the project for showing that agriculture must be nutrition-driven.

“By integrating nutrition-sensitive approaches into our food systems, we improved diets, especially for women and children,” the Commissioner said.

“The promotion of biofortified crops such as vitamin A maize, cassava and orange-fleshed sweet potato has been a game-changer.”

He said SNIPS strengthened farmer capacity, empowered women, improved access to quality planting materials and influenced household feeding practices.
“This close-out is not an end but a transition. We must consolidate these gains and scale up best practices,” he added.

The ceremony ended with stakeholders emphasising deeper collaboration among governments, development partners and communities to secure Nigeria’s nutrition future.