•Preaches 6-month maternity leave policy to private sector
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF ) has said only one out of every three babies is exclusively breastfed for up to six months in Nigeria.
UNICEF’s Chief of Enugu Field Office, Mrs Juliet Chiluwe, said this while addressing newsmen in a virtual meeting in Owerri, on Thursday.
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This was part of activities marking the World Breastfeeding Week observed every August 1-7.
The theme for the 2025 Edition is: “Prioritise breastfeeding: Create sustainable support systems.”
Chiluwe described breastfeeding as “a cornerstone of child survival, growth and healthy development”, and said that the year’s theme underscored the urgent need to build lasting systems that support mothers to breastfeed.
She, however, expressed satisfaction that over 90 percent of Nigerian women have breastfed their babies.
She also commended the 10 states of Lagos, Kwara, Ekiti, Oyo, Cross River, Kaduna, Niger, Ondo, Enugu and Plateau for extending paid maternity leave for up to six months for public workers.
According to her, the extension will serve as an incentive for improved and efficient breastfeeding as it is expected to reduce the pressure on lactating mothers to return to work.
“Breast milk is all a baby needs for the first six months; no substitutes compare.
“Mothers need time, support and protection from families, workplaces, communities and the government,” she said.
Chiluwe called for the establishment of breastfeeding corners in workplaces to give mothers a dignified and convenient space to breastfeed.
She added that working mothers could successfully breastfeed with the right support.
Also speaking, UNICEF’s Social Behavioral Change Specialist, Enugu field office, Dr Hillary Ozor, called on all stakeholders for action on agenda setting for breastfeeding.
“We should set the agenda and the media can lead the call for action on breastfeeding.
“A clear sign of love for my child is to exclusively breastfeed my child,” she said.
Meanwhile, UNICEF Chief of Field Office in Kaduna, Dr Gerida Birukila, has appealed to the private sector to adopt a six-month maternity leave policy to support breastfeeding mothers.
Birukila made the appeal at a “Youths lead the circle of support for breastfeeding” event.
She said working mothers face challenges in breastfeeding exclusively due to work environment and the lack of support.
She, therefore, said a six-month maternity leave policy would enable mothers to stay at home and breastfeed their babies without interruption.
Birukila said exclusive breastfeeding for six months can significantly reduce infant mortality rate and improve cognitive development.
“Breast milk contains all the necessary nutrients for infants, and exclusive breastfeeding can boost infants’ immune system.
“Proper nutrition is crucial for the health and development of infants.
“A well-nourished mother can provide her baby with the necessary nutrients for growth and development.
“Pregnant women should eat well, take essential supplements and micronutrients, and attend antenatal care.”
Birukila emphasised the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child’s life, adding that it would promote the health and wellbeing of both mothers and infants.
She said that the state government had set an example by providing a supportive work environment for breastfeeding mothers by establishing creches in some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
“The state’s six-month paid maternity leave policy and crèches in MDAs are examples of best practices that can be adopted by the private sector,” she said.
The state’s Nutrition Officer, Mrs Ramatu Haruna, also highlighted the state’s support system for breastfeeding mothers.
“The state has a six-month paid maternity leave policy and crèches in MDAs, enabling working mothers to balance work and breastfeeding responsibilities,” she said.
Haruna said that the private sector could play a significant role in promoting breastfeeding.
She said employers could provide paid maternity leave, flexible working arrangements, and other benefits that support breastfeeding mothers, helping them balance work and breastfeeding responsibilities.
She also said that the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for six months are numerous, including reduction of infant mortality rates, improve cognitive development, and boost the immune system.
Haruna added that breast milk contains all the necessary nutrients for infants, and exclusive breastfeeding can promote healthy growth and development.
She also said that employers could provide other benefits that support working mothers, including crèches or childcare services, flexible working arrangements and other benefits that support work-life balance.
“By providing these benefits, employers can help mothers balance work and family responsibilities,” she said. He renewed the commitment of the Ministry to working with WAEC, NECO, and all stakeholders to deliver an assessment system that reflects the true ability of Nigerian students and strengthens public confidence in the nation’s education framework.
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