The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s low exclusive breastfeeding rate, revealing that two out of every three Nigerian children are not exclusively breastfed despite clear scientific evidence showing the practice is essential for child survival, healthy growth and cognitive development.

The agency also called on journalists and media organisations to intensify accurate and sustained advocacy on breastfeeding, describing the media as a critical partner in influencing public attitudes, shaping policies and encouraging mothers and families to adopt recommended infant feeding practices.

The appeal was made on Thursday during a two-day Zonal Media Dialogue on the Dissemination of Key Advocacy Messages for the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week, scheduled to hold from August 1 to 7, 2026, under the theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works.”

The media dialogue was organised by UNICEF in collaboration with the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State (BCA), with support from the United States Mission in Nigeria, Child Nutrition Fund, Gates Foundation and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Welcoming participants, the Officer-in-Charge of the UNICEF Field Office in Enugu, Dr. Hilary Ozoh, described breastfeeding as one of the most effective and affordable investments any country can make to secure the future of its children.

He noted that breastfeeding gives infants the strongest possible start in life by boosting immunity, improving cognitive development, reducing childhood illnesses and enhancing maternal health. He added that the practice also contributes significantly to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals on health, nutrition, education and poverty reduction.

Dr. Ozoh, however, observed that many mothers continue to encounter barriers to exclusive breastfeeding, including misinformation, harmful cultural beliefs, inadequate workplace support and inconsistent public messaging.

“Despite the overwhelming evidence supporting breastfeeding, many families continue to face barriers arising from misinformation, harmful social norms, inadequate workplace support and inconsistent public messaging. Addressing these challenges requires collective action, and the media has a unique and indispensable role to play,” Dr. Ozoh said.

He urged journalists to move beyond reporting events and actively support efforts that encourage positive behavioural change.

“The media is not merely a channel for information dissemination; it is a powerful partner in shaping public opinion, influencing policy, amplifying evidence-based messages and inspiring positive behaviour change. Through accurate, consistent and compelling storytelling, journalists can help create an enabling environment where mothers, families and communities make informed decisions about infant and young child feeding,” he added.

According to Dr. Ozoh, the dialogue was organised to equip media practitioners with current scientific evidence, harmonised advocacy messages and practical communication skills to strengthen breastfeeding coverage during the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week and beyond.

He also reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to working alongside governments, civil society organisations, professional bodies, development partners and the media to promote policies and programmes that support optimal breastfeeding practices.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State, Francis Nwubani, who was represented by UNICEF Desk Officer Mr. Nkpa Okezie, reaffirmed the organisation’s longstanding collaboration with UNICEF.

“we are solidly behind UNICEF on this programme and participants will be better informed at the end of the meeting.”

Earlier, UNICEF Communication Officer at the Enugu Field Office, Dr. Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe, explained that the media dialogue was designed to harmonise advocacy messages for the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week in line with the guidelines of the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA).

She said the programme would strengthen journalists’ capacity to accurately report evidence-based information on breastfeeding, infant and young child feeding, maternal nutrition and child survival while fostering stronger partnerships among the media, governments and development partners.

Dr. Onuoha-Ogwe added that participants would also develop state-specific media action plans for Benue, Cross River, Enugu and Imo states to sustain breastfeeding advocacy beyond the annual campaign.

During a presentation titled “Leveraging Media for Advocacy on Infant and Young Child Feeding, Survival and Development: Strengthening What Works for Good Breastfeeding Practices,” Public Health Physician and Consultant in the Department of Community Medicine at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Dr. Chikezie Obasi, urged journalists to regard breastfeeding advocacy as a social responsibility.

He encouraged media practitioners to consistently promote recommendations by UNICEF and the World Health Organisation, which advise mothers to begin breastfeeding within the first hour after birth, practise exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months and subsequently introduce safe complementary foods while continuing breastfeeding up to two years or beyond.

Dr. Obasi said exclusive breastfeeding remains one of the most effective strategies for improving child survival, strengthening immunity, promoting healthy growth, reducing avoidable healthcare costs and building a healthier, more productive population.

In another presentation, UNICEF Nutrition Specialist at the Enugu Field Office, Mrs. Ngozi Onuora, described Nigeria’s breastfeeding situation as troubling.

She disclosed that two out of every three Nigerian children are not exclusively breastfed, noting that although early breastfeeding initiation has improved, exclusive breastfeeding rates remain significantly below national targets.

“Two out of three children are not exclusively breastfed,” she stated, adding that many mothers discontinue exclusive breastfeeding because of poor family support, misinformation, workplace barriers, aggressive marketing of breast-milk substitutes and inadequate counselling.

Mrs. Onuora also underscored the importance of the media in improving child nutrition across Nigeria.

“Media are critical partners in improving breastfeeding outcomes,” she said, urging journalists to increase evidence-based reporting, amplify success stories and sustain public education campaigns capable of encouraging more families to adopt optimal breastfeeding practices.

The dialogue brought together journalists, officials from the Ministries of Health and Information, as well as nutrition focal persons from Benue, Cross River, Enugu and Imo states.

Source: Punch Newspaper.