GAIN Champions Data-Driven Transformation of Nigeria’s Food Systems By Raymond Enoch
The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is spearheading a strategic initiative to revolutionize Nigeria’s food systems through data-driven approaches. In a two-day workshop under the Food Systems Countdown Initiative (FSCI), stakeholders from government, academia, and civil society collaborated to adapt global food systems monitoring frameworks to Nigeria’s unique context.
The workshop focused on aligning key indicators with national priorities and exploring how insights can shape impactful policies. Participants engaged in expert groups across five thematic areas: nutrition and health, environment and production, livelihoods and equity, governance, and resilience. This collaborative effort aims to lay the groundwork for a more inclusive, sustainable, and nutrition-focused food system—one where data drives decisions and progress is measurable.
Dr. Michael Ojo, GAIN’s Country Director, emphasized the importance of localizing global frameworks to address Nigeria’s specific challenges. He noted that the Nigeria Food Systems Dashboard, an online platform developed by GAIN in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, and the National Bureau of Statistics, aggregates state-level data across food supply chains, food environments, nutrition, and social equity. This tool supports evidence-based decision-making, enhances governance, and improves food security by enabling policymakers to visualize key trends and take informed action.
The initiative aligns with GAIN’s broader goals to improve access to nutritionally enhanced staple foods for 1.5 billion people globally and to support transformative change in food systems. By fostering multi-sectoral coordination and empowering stakeholders with data, GAIN is paving the way for a resilient and equitable food system in Nigeria.
This strategic move underscores the critical role of data in shaping policies that address food insecurity, malnutrition, and environmental sustainability in Nigeria.
