The Kogi State Ministry of Education has conducted a step-down training on Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) for its staff, aimed at equipping them with the skills to integrate nutrition-sensitive practices into the education system.
The initiative is designed to enable education officers, particularly those working closely with schools, to identify children at risk of malnutrition, make timely referrals, and promote healthy feeding practices through school health platforms.
Declaring the training open, Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, said education goes beyond classrooms and textbooks, stressing the need for learners to be healthy to learn, thrive, and achieve their potential.
“Malnutrition, especially in children, remains a silent threat to their future. Its impact goes beyond the physical, robbing children of their ability to learn effectively and grow to their full potential,” Jones stated. Represented by Acting Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Omolayo Barikisu Onasare, he expressed the ministry’s pride in partnering with health and nutrition experts to bring the IMAM training to staff, with plans to cascade it to the school level.
The Commissioner commended partners and facilitators for making the training possible, noting that it would help safeguard children’s lives and secure a brighter educational future for the state. He urged participants to take the training seriously and ensure the knowledge gained is transferred to schools and communities.
In his remarks, Director of Food and Nutrition at the ministry, Mr. Abel Sule, described acute malnutrition as a growing challenge among school-aged children. He stressed the ministry’s role in prevention, early detection, and timely referral, urging participants to engage fully with the training for the benefit of both learning outcomes and children’s overall health.
