The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has intensified efforts to promote exclusive breastfeeding in Kano State, calling on governments, employers and communities to provide stronger support for nursing mothers during the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week.
Addressing participants during a road walk held to mark the annual campaign, the Chief of UNICEF Kano Field Office, Mr. Shafeeq Ur-Rehman, described breastfeeding as one of the most effective and sustainable ways to ensure children’s healthy growth and reduce maternal and infant deaths.
According to him, this year’s theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” emphasizes the need to reinforce proven interventions that improve the health and well-being of mothers and children.
“Breast milk is a baby’s first vaccine. It protects children from infections, malnutrition and preventable illnesses while supporting healthy brain development and long-term productivity,” Ur-Rehman said.
He noted that breastfeeding also benefits mothers by lowering the risk of postpartum complications as well as breast and ovarian cancers, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Despite the widespread practice of breastfeeding in Nigeria, the UNICEF official expressed concern that many babies are still missing out on recommended feeding practices.
“Although over 90 per cent of Nigerian mothers breastfeed, fewer than one in ten newborns are breastfed within the first hour of birth, and only about one in ten infants receive exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months,” he said.
Ur-Rehman stressed that successful breastfeeding depends on support from families, health workers, employers and governments, rather than mothers alone.
He urged Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states to adopt six months of paid maternity leave, saying the policy would enable mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies for the recommended period.
The UNICEF official also encouraged employers to introduce breastfeeding-friendly workplace policies, including flexible working hours, nursing breaks, lactation rooms and facilities for storing expressed breast milk.
Also speaking, Kano State Nutrition Officer, Aishatu Suleiman, said the campaign is designed to encourage mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six months and continue breastfeeding alongside appropriate complementary feeding until the age of two.
“Exclusive breastfeeding provides all the nutrients an infant needs during the first six months, strengthens immunity and remains one of the most effective strategies for preventing malnutrition,” Suleiman said.
She added that improving breastfeeding practices is essential to tackling child malnutrition and improving child health outcomes across Kano State.
