In a concerning revelation, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has disclosed that only 15 per cent of mothers in Niger State practice exclusive breastfeeding for the recommended first six months of a child’s life.
This disclosure came from Dr Ahmed Tsofo, a UNICEF Health Specialist, during the launch of the 2025 World Breastfeeding Week in Minna. Representing the UNICEF Chief of Kaduna Field Office, Dr Gerida Birukila, Tsofo emphasized that while the national average for exclusive breastfeeding stands at 34 per cent, Niger State’s performance is alarmingly low at just 15.7 per cent.
“As UNICEF, we are advocating for all levels of government to enforce and implement the six-month maternity leave policy, which is essential for promoting exclusive breastfeeding. Niger is one of the 10 states that have approved this policy,” Dr Birukila said through her representative.
The wife of the Niger State Governor, Fatima Bago, who officiated the event, encouraged mothers and their spouses to support exclusive breastfeeding, highlighting its multiple benefits for both babies and mothers.
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“Exclusive breastfeeding is crucial not just for the child’s nutrition and immunity but also supports family planning and reduces infant mortality,” she noted.
Further emphasizing the state’s commitment, the Commissioner for Primary Health Care, Dr Ibrahim Dangana, represented by Dr Mohammed Gana, said that the six-month paid maternity leave has been officially gazetted and is now being fully implemented in Niger State.
Aisha Ndagi, the UNICEF U-Report Team Lead, also led sensitisation campaigns across communities in Minna, encouraging mothers to adhere to the six-month exclusive breastfeeding rule, emphasizing its importance for child survival and maternal health.
The call to action from UNICEF and state authorities aims to improve the region’s infant health statistics by fostering a culture of consistent and exclusive breastfeeding across households.
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