The Niger State Government and the United Nations Children’s Education Fund have urged Niger State women to vigorously promote exclusive breastfeeding.The two bodies said this would enable families raise up healthy children and give their babies a good start in lifeThe government gave the charge in Minna during the recently held 2026 World Breastfeeding Week where it disclosed that the state has yet to attain the national average for exclusive breastfeeding, while estimating the national average at 56 per cent.To sensitise families resident in the state and intentionally focus on women, both the government and UNICEF organised a road walk to commemorate the week during which participants walked under a heavy downpour from the Kuta Memorial Primary Healthcare Centre at the old Airport Road to the Obasanjo complex.Arewa PUNCH reports that during the sensitisation exercise which targeted more of the women population of the state on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, especially in the first 1000 days of new babies to give them a good start in life, the Director of Food and Drugs Niger State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Daniel Jiya, who led the road walk told newsmen that the essence of commemorating the world breastfeeding Day was to emphasis the need for born children to be given the nutrient from their mothers’ beast milk to enable them grow healthy.Jiya said, “We are here to celebrate and commemorate the 2026 World breastfeeding week.“The theme for this is ‘Exclusive Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthening What Works.’Related NewsBenue residents stage road walk to embrace exclusive breastfeeding campaignNAPTIP jails two for human trafficking, seven others on trialGroups seek tobacco amendment bill recall“Exclusive breastfeeding celebration is to sensitise our mothers and breastfeeding mothers on the importance and significance of exclusively breastfeeding our babies and our children for six months.“During those periods of exclusive breastfeeding we sensitise women not to give anything apart from the breast milk because the breastfeeding milk is rich and sufficient in all the nutrient that the child will need. It is also sufficient and rich in the liquid that the body of the child will need.“So, we also expect that these children are fed with breast milk from birth to when they are six months old so that at least, they will have the necessary and complete development that they will need because the breastfeeding milk is rich in all the vitamins. It is rich in all the proteins. It is rich in all the antibodies that the baby would need for a sustainable growth and a sustainable start in life,” Jiya added.Continuing, the directo, stressed, “The programme line up is what we started with today. We started with the road work and the road walk has been graciously blessed by the rain. On Monday, we will be having the flag-off and it will be done by the wife of the farmer governor. After the flag-off, we will have series of activities to ensure that women are attended to and give birth under the supervision of. skilled birth attendants, and we will also try to ensure that the women put the children they gave birth to, to breast milk at least one hour after child birth.“The rate of compliance is not something that is tangible and can be measured. From the little date we are having, the rate of compliance in Niger is very high. Breastfeeding in Niger State is about 49 per cent. We have not yet reached the national average but we are working very hard to be able to reach the national average. It is part of the reason why we are having this sensitisation programme. The national average is about 56 per cent,” Jiya explained.While further imploring breastfeeding mothers to ensure that the exercise is effected from day one of the birth of their baby to the first 1,000 days, Jiya revealed that in Niger State, the campaign is supported by the UNICEF and the United States government. The two bodies said this would enable families raise up healthy children and give their babies a good start in lifeThe government gave the charge in Minna during the recently held 2026 World Breastfeeding Week where it disclosed that the state has yet to attain the national average for exclusive breastfeeding, while estimating the national average at 56 per cent.To sensitise families resident in the state and intentionally focus on women, both the government and UNICEF organised a road walk to commemorate the week during which participants walked under a heavy downpour from the Kuta Memorial Primary Healthcare Centre at the old Airport Road to the Obasanjo complex.Arewa PUNCH reports that during the sensitisation exercise which targeted more of the women population of the state on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, especially in the first 1000 days of new babies to give them a good start in life, the Director of Food and Drugs Niger State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Daniel Jiya, who led the road walk told newsmen that the essence of commemorating the world breastfeeding Day was to emphasis the need for born children to be given the nutrient from their mothers’ beast milk to enable them grow healthy.Jiya said, “We are here to celebrate and commemorate the 2026 World breastfeeding week.“The theme for this is ‘Exclusive Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthening What Works.’Related NewsBenue residents stage road walk to embrace exclusive breastfeeding campaignNAPTIP jails two for human trafficking, seven others on trialGroups seek tobacco amendment bill recall“Exclusive breastfeeding celebration is to sensitise our mothers and breastfeeding mothers on the importance and significance of exclusively breastfeeding our babies and our children for six months.“During those periods of exclusive breastfeeding we sensitise women not to give anything apart from the breast milk because the breastfeeding milk is rich and sufficient in all the nutrient that the child will need. It is also sufficient and rich in the liquid that the body of the child will need.“So, we also expect that these children are fed with breast milk from birth to when they are six months old so that at least, they will have the necessary and complete development that they will need because the breastfeeding milk is rich in all the vitamins. It is rich in all the proteins. It is rich in all the antibodies that the baby would need for a sustainable growth and a sustainable start in life,” Jiya added.Continuing, the directo, stressed, “The programme line up is what we started with today. We started with the road work and the road walk has been graciously blessed by the rain. On Monday, we will be having the flag-off and it will be done by the wife of the farmer governor. After the flag-off, we will have series of activities to ensure that women are attended to and give birth under the supervision of. skilled birth attendants, and we will also try to ensure that the women put the children they gave birth to, to breast milk at least one hour after child birth.“The rate of compliance is not something that is tangible and can be measured. From the little date we are having, the rate of compliance in Niger is very high. Breastfeeding in Niger State is about 49 per cent. We have not yet reached the national average but we are working very hard to be able to reach the national average. It is part of the reason why we are having this sensitisation programme. The national average is about 56 per cent,” Jiya explained.While further imploring breastfeeding mothers to ensure that the exercise is effected from day one of the birth of their baby to the first 1,000 days, Jiya revealed that in Niger State, the campaign is supported by the UNICEF and the United States government. The government gave the charge in Minna during the recently held 2026 World Breastfeeding Week where it disclosed that the state has yet to attain the national average for exclusive breastfeeding, while estimating the national average at 56 per cent.To sensitise families resident in the state and intentionally focus on women, both the government and UNICEF organised a road walk to commemorate the week during which participants walked under a heavy downpour from the Kuta Memorial Primary Healthcare Centre at the old Airport Road to the Obasanjo complex.Arewa PUNCH reports that during the sensitisation exercise which targeted more of the women population of the state on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, especially in the first 1000 days of new babies to give them a good start in life, the Director of Food and Drugs Niger State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Daniel Jiya, who led the road walk told newsmen that the essence of commemorating the world breastfeeding Day was to emphasis the need for born children to be given the nutrient from their mothers’ beast milk to enable them grow healthy.Jiya said, “We are here to celebrate and commemorate the 2026 World breastfeeding week.“The theme for this is ‘Exclusive Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthening What Works.’Related NewsBenue residents stage road walk to embrace exclusive breastfeeding campaignNAPTIP jails two for human trafficking, seven others on trialGroups seek tobacco amendment bill recall“Exclusive breastfeeding celebration is to sensitise our mothers and breastfeeding mothers on the importance and significance of exclusively breastfeeding our babies and our children for six months.“During those periods of exclusive breastfeeding we sensitise women not to give anything apart from the breast milk because the breastfeeding milk is rich and sufficient in all the nutrient that the child will need. It is also sufficient and rich in the liquid that the body of the child will need.“So, we also expect that these children are fed with breast milk from birth to when they are six months old so that at least, they will have the necessary and complete development that they will need because the breastfeeding milk is rich in all the vitamins. It is rich in all the proteins. It is rich in all the antibodies that the baby would need for a sustainable growth and a sustainable start in life,” Jiya added.Continuing, the directo, stressed, “The programme line up is what we started with today. We started with the road work and the road walk has been graciously blessed by the rain. On Monday, we will be having the flag-off and it will be done by the wife of the farmer governor. After the flag-off, we will have series of activities to ensure that women are attended to and give birth under the supervision of. skilled birth attendants, and we will also try to ensure that the women put the children they gave birth to, to breast milk at least one hour after child birth.“The rate of compliance is not something that is tangible and can be measured. From the little date we are having, the rate of compliance in Niger is very high. Breastfeeding in Niger State is about 49 per cent. We have not yet reached the national average but we are working very hard to be able to reach the national average. It is part of the reason why we are having this sensitisation programme. The national average is about 56 per cent,” Jiya explained.While further imploring breastfeeding mothers to ensure that the exercise is effected from day one of the birth of their baby to the first 1,000 days, Jiya revealed that in Niger State, the campaign is supported by the UNICEF and the United States government. To sensitise families resident in the state and intentionally focus on women, both the government and UNICEF organised a road walk to commemorate the week during which participants walked under a heavy downpour from the Kuta Memorial Primary Healthcare Centre at the old Airport Road to the Obasanjo complex.Arewa PUNCH reports that during the sensitisation exercise which targeted more of the women population of the state on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, especially in the first 1000 days of new babies to give them a good start in life, the Director of Food and Drugs Niger State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Daniel Jiya, who led the road walk told newsmen that the essence of commemorating the world breastfeeding Day was to emphasis the need for born children to be given the nutrient from their mothers’ beast milk to enable them grow healthy.Jiya said, “We are here to celebrate and commemorate the 2026 World breastfeeding week.“The theme for this is ‘Exclusive Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthening What Works.’Related NewsBenue residents stage road walk to embrace exclusive breastfeeding campaignNAPTIP jails two for human trafficking, seven others on trialGroups seek tobacco amendment bill recall“Exclusive breastfeeding celebration is to sensitise our mothers and breastfeeding mothers on the importance and significance of exclusively breastfeeding our babies and our children for six months.“During those periods of exclusive breastfeeding we sensitise women not to give anything apart from the breast milk because the breastfeeding milk is rich and sufficient in all the nutrient that the child will need. It is also sufficient and rich in the liquid that the body of the child will need.“So, we also expect that these children are fed with breast milk from birth to when they are six months old so that at least, they will have the necessary and complete development that they will need because the breastfeeding milk is rich in all the vitamins. It is rich in all the proteins. It is rich in all the antibodies that the baby would need for a sustainable growth and a sustainable start in life,” Jiya added.Continuing, the directo, stressed, “The programme line up is what we started with today. We started with the road work and the road walk has been graciously blessed by the rain. On Monday, we will be having the flag-off and it will be done by the wife of the farmer governor. After the flag-off, we will have series of activities to ensure that women are attended to and give birth under the supervision of. skilled birth attendants, and we will also try to ensure that the women put the children they gave birth to, to breast milk at least one hour after child birth.“The rate of compliance is not something that is tangible and can be measured. From the little date we are having, the rate of compliance in Niger is very high. Breastfeeding in Niger State is about 49 per cent. We have not yet reached the national average but we are working very hard to be able to reach the national average. It is part of the reason why we are having this sensitisation programme. The national average is about 56 per cent,” Jiya explained.While further imploring breastfeeding mothers to ensure that the exercise is effected from day one of the birth of their baby to the first 1,000 days, Jiya revealed that in Niger State, the campaign is supported by the UNICEF and the United States government. Arewa PUNCH reports that during the sensitisation exercise which targeted more of the women population of the state on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, especially in the first 1000 days of new babies to give them a good start in life, the Director of Food and Drugs Niger State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Daniel Jiya, who led the road walk told newsmen that the essence of commemorating the world breastfeeding Day was to emphasis the need for born children to be given the nutrient from their mothers’ beast milk to enable them grow healthy.Jiya said, “We are here to celebrate and commemorate the 2026 World breastfeeding week.“The theme for this is ‘Exclusive Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthening What Works.’Related NewsBenue residents stage road walk to embrace exclusive breastfeeding campaignNAPTIP jails two for human trafficking, seven others on trialGroups seek tobacco amendment bill recall“Exclusive breastfeeding celebration is to sensitise our mothers and breastfeeding mothers on the importance and significance of exclusively breastfeeding our babies and our children for six months.“During those periods of exclusive breastfeeding we sensitise women not to give anything apart from the breast milk because the breastfeeding milk is rich and sufficient in all the nutrient that the child will need. It is also sufficient and rich in the liquid that the body of the child will need.“So, we also expect that these children are fed with breast milk from birth to when they are six months old so that at least, they will have the necessary and complete development that they will need because the breastfeeding milk is rich in all the vitamins. It is rich in all the proteins. It is rich in all the antibodies that the baby would need for a sustainable growth and a sustainable start in life,” Jiya added.Continuing, the directo, stressed, “The programme line up is what we started with today. We started with the road work and the road walk has been graciously blessed by the rain. On Monday, we will be having the flag-off and it will be done by the wife of the farmer governor. After the flag-off, we will have series of activities to ensure that women are attended to and give birth under the supervision of. skilled birth attendants, and we will also try to ensure that the women put the children they gave birth to, to breast milk at least one hour after child birth.“The rate of compliance is not something that is tangible and can be measured. From the little date we are having, the rate of compliance in Niger is very high. Breastfeeding in Niger State is about 49 per cent. We have not yet reached the national average but we are working very hard to be able to reach the national average. It is part of the reason why we are having this sensitisation programme. The national average is about 56 per cent,” Jiya explained.While further imploring breastfeeding mothers to ensure that the exercise is effected from day one of the birth of their baby to the first 1,000 days, Jiya revealed that in Niger State, the campaign is supported by the UNICEF and the United States government. Jiya said, “We are here to celebrate and commemorate the 2026 World breastfeeding week.“The theme for this is ‘Exclusive Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthening What Works.’Related NewsBenue residents stage road walk to embrace exclusive breastfeeding campaignNAPTIP jails two for human trafficking, seven others on trialGroups seek tobacco amendment bill recall“Exclusive breastfeeding celebration is to sensitise our mothers and breastfeeding mothers on the importance and significance of exclusively breastfeeding our babies and our children for six months.“During those periods of exclusive breastfeeding we sensitise women not to give anything apart from the breast milk because the breastfeeding milk is rich and sufficient in all the nutrient that the child will need. It is also sufficient and rich in the liquid that the body of the child will need.“So, we also expect that these children are fed with breast milk from birth to when they are six months old so that at least, they will have the necessary and complete development that they will need because the breastfeeding milk is rich in all the vitamins. It is rich in all the proteins. It is rich in all the antibodies that the baby would need for a sustainable growth and a sustainable start in life,” Jiya added.Continuing, the directo, stressed, “The programme line up is what we started with today. We started with the road work and the road walk has been graciously blessed by the rain. On Monday, we will be having the flag-off and it will be done by the wife of the farmer governor. After the flag-off, we will have series of activities to ensure that women are attended to and give birth under the supervision of. skilled birth attendants, and we will also try to ensure that the women put the children they gave birth to, to breast milk at least one hour after child birth.“The rate of compliance is not something that is tangible and can be measured. From the little date we are having, the rate of compliance in Niger is very high. Breastfeeding in Niger State is about 49 per cent. We have not yet reached the national average but we are working very hard to be able to reach the national average. It is part of the reason why we are having this sensitisation programme. The national average is about 56 per cent,” Jiya explained.While further imploring breastfeeding mothers to ensure that the exercise is effected from day one of the birth of their baby to the first 1,000 days, Jiya revealed that in Niger State, the campaign is supported by the UNICEF and the United States government. “The theme for this is ‘Exclusive Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthening What Works.’Related NewsBenue residents stage road walk to embrace exclusive breastfeeding campaignNAPTIP jails two for human trafficking, seven others on trialGroups seek tobacco amendment bill recall“Exclusive breastfeeding celebration is to sensitise our mothers and breastfeeding mothers on the importance and significance of exclusively breastfeeding our babies and our children for six months.“During those periods of exclusive breastfeeding we sensitise women not to give anything apart from the breast milk because the breastfeeding milk is rich and sufficient in all the nutrient that the child will need. It is also sufficient and rich in the liquid that the body of the child will need.“So, we also expect that these children are fed with breast milk from birth to when they are six months old so that at least, they will have the necessary and complete development that they will need because the breastfeeding milk is rich in all the vitamins. It is rich in all the proteins. It is rich in all the antibodies that the baby would need for a sustainable growth and a sustainable start in life,” Jiya added.Continuing, the directo, stressed, “The programme line up is what we started with today. We started with the road work and the road walk has been graciously blessed by the rain. On Monday, we will be having the flag-off and it will be done by the wife of the farmer governor. After the flag-off, we will have series of activities to ensure that women are attended to and give birth under the supervision of. skilled birth attendants, and we will also try to ensure that the women put the children they gave birth to, to breast milk at least one hour after child birth.“The rate of compliance is not something that is tangible and can be measured. From the little date we are having, the rate of compliance in Niger is very high. Breastfeeding in Niger State is about 49 per cent. We have not yet reached the national average but we are working very hard to be able to reach the national average. It is part of the reason why we are having this sensitisation programme. The national average is about 56 per cent,” Jiya explained.While further imploring breastfeeding mothers to ensure that the exercise is effected from day one of the birth of their baby to the first 1,000 days, Jiya revealed that in Niger State, the campaign is supported by the UNICEF and the United States government. “Exclusive breastfeeding celebration is to sensitise our mothers and breastfeeding mothers on the importance and significance of exclusively breastfeeding our babies and our children for six months.“During those periods of exclusive breastfeeding we sensitise women not to give anything apart from the breast milk because the breastfeeding milk is rich and sufficient in all the nutrient that the child will need. It is also sufficient and rich in the liquid that the body of the child will need.“So, we also expect that these children are fed with breast milk from birth to when they are six months old so that at least, they will have the necessary and complete development that they will need because the breastfeeding milk is rich in all the vitamins. It is rich in all the proteins. It is rich in all the antibodies that the baby would need for a sustainable growth and a sustainable start in life,” Jiya added.Continuing, the directo, stressed, “The programme line up is what we started with today. We started with the road work and the road walk has been graciously blessed by the rain. On Monday, we will be having the flag-off and it will be done by the wife of the farmer governor. After the flag-off, we will have series of activities to ensure that women are attended to and give birth under the supervision of. skilled birth attendants, and we will also try to ensure that the women put the children they gave birth to, to breast milk at least one hour after child birth.“The rate of compliance is not something that is tangible and can be measured. From the little date we are having, the rate of compliance in Niger is very high. Breastfeeding in Niger State is about 49 per cent. We have not yet reached the national average but we are working very hard to be able to reach the national average. It is part of the reason why we are having this sensitisation programme. The national average is about 56 per cent,” Jiya explained.While further imploring breastfeeding mothers to ensure that the exercise is effected from day one of the birth of their baby to the first 1,000 days, Jiya revealed that in Niger State, the campaign is supported by the UNICEF and the United States government. “During those periods of exclusive breastfeeding we sensitise women not to give anything apart from the breast milk because the breastfeeding milk is rich and sufficient in all the nutrient that the child will need. It is also sufficient and rich in the liquid that the body of the child will need.“So, we also expect that these children are fed with breast milk from birth to when they are six months old so that at least, they will have the necessary and complete development that they will need because the breastfeeding milk is rich in all the vitamins. It is rich in all the proteins. It is rich in all the antibodies that the baby would need for a sustainable growth and a sustainable start in life,” Jiya added.Continuing, the directo, stressed, “The programme line up is what we started with today. We started with the road work and the road walk has been graciously blessed by the rain. On Monday, we will be having the flag-off and it will be done by the wife of the farmer governor. After the flag-off, we will have series of activities to ensure that women are attended to and give birth under the supervision of. skilled birth attendants, and we will also try to ensure that the women put the children they gave birth to, to breast milk at least one hour after child birth.“The rate of compliance is not something that is tangible and can be measured. From the little date we are having, the rate of compliance in Niger is very high. Breastfeeding in Niger State is about 49 per cent. We have not yet reached the national average but we are working very hard to be able to reach the national average. It is part of the reason why we are having this sensitisation programme. The national average is about 56 per cent,” Jiya explained.While further imploring breastfeeding mothers to ensure that the exercise is effected from day one of the birth of their baby to the first 1,000 days, Jiya revealed that in Niger State, the campaign is supported by the UNICEF and the United States government. “So, we also expect that these children are fed with breast milk from birth to when they are six months old so that at least, they will have the necessary and complete development that they will need because the breastfeeding milk is rich in all the vitamins. It is rich in all the proteins. It is rich in all the antibodies that the baby would need for a sustainable growth and a sustainable start in life,” Jiya added.Continuing, the directo, stressed, “The programme line up is what we started with today. We started with the road work and the road walk has been graciously blessed by the rain. On Monday, we will be having the flag-off and it will be done by the wife of the farmer governor. After the flag-off, we will have series of activities to ensure that women are attended to and give birth under the supervision of. skilled birth attendants, and we will also try to ensure that the women put the children they gave birth to, to breast milk at least one hour after child birth.“The rate of compliance is not something that is tangible and can be measured. From the little date we are having, the rate of compliance in Niger is very high. Breastfeeding in Niger State is about 49 per cent. We have not yet reached the national average but we are working very hard to be able to reach the national average. It is part of the reason why we are having this sensitisation programme. The national average is about 56 per cent,” Jiya explained.While further imploring breastfeeding mothers to ensure that the exercise is effected from day one of the birth of their baby to the first 1,000 days, Jiya revealed that in Niger State, the campaign is supported by the UNICEF and the United States government. Continuing, the directo, stressed, “The programme line up is what we started with today. We started with the road work and the road walk has been graciously blessed by the rain. On Monday, we will be having the flag-off and it will be done by the wife of the farmer governor. After the flag-off, we will have series of activities to ensure that women are attended to and give birth under the supervision of. skilled birth attendants, and we will also try to ensure that the women put the children they gave birth to, to breast milk at least one hour after child birth.“The rate of compliance is not something that is tangible and can be measured. From the little date we are having, the rate of compliance in Niger is very high. Breastfeeding in Niger State is about 49 per cent. We have not yet reached the national average but we are working very hard to be able to reach the national average. It is part of the reason why we are having this sensitisation programme. The national average is about 56 per cent,” Jiya explained.While further imploring breastfeeding mothers to ensure that the exercise is effected from day one of the birth of their baby to the first 1,000 days, Jiya revealed that in Niger State, the campaign is supported by the UNICEF and the United States government. “The rate of compliance is not something that is tangible and can be measured. From the little date we are having, the rate of compliance in Niger is very high. Breastfeeding in Niger State is about 49 per cent. We have not yet reached the national average but we are working very hard to be able to reach the national average. It is part of the reason why we are having this sensitisation programme. The national average is about 56 per cent,” Jiya explained.While further imploring breastfeeding mothers to ensure that the exercise is effected from day one of the birth of their baby to the first 1,000 days, Jiya revealed that in Niger State, the campaign is supported by the UNICEF and the United States government. While further imploring breastfeeding mothers to ensure that the exercise is effected from day one of the birth of their baby to the first 1,000 days, Jiya revealed that in Niger State, the campaign is supported by the UNICEF and the United States government.