TechnoServe Launches MFI to Tackle Malnutrition

Ayodeji Ake

To reduce the level of malnutrition, an international non-profit organisation, TechnoServe, has launched a Micronutrient Fortification Index (MFI) web portal for food quality control.

Speaking at the official launch recently in Lagos, Regional Program Officer, TechnoServe, Mr. Tobi Durotoye, noted that the importance of MFI is to promote healthy living of Nigerians through the quality of food consumption.

He said: “We are on a journey to fight malnutrition in Nigeria and the journey consists of a very effective solution such as food fortification, which is the richness of food such as; vegetable oil, flour, salt and sugar.

“The focus of this event is to convene high level stakeholders from the private sector, government, and civil society around the launch of the micronutrient fortification index rankings and web portal as a key data driven management, governance and accountability mechanism that will drive opportunities for collectives action around scaling up large scaling food fortification (LSFF) to address national nutrition challenges, aligned with the digitalisation of national initiatives in the Nigerian food sector.”

In his dispensation, Durotoye, said the launch of MFI will also provide an opportunity to rearrange the leadership of food processors participating in the index.

“TechnoServe, in partnership with Flour Millers Association of Nigeria, Lagos Business School and the Bill& Melinda Gates Foundation.

“We want to ensure essential micronutrients are added during food processing, widely identified as a cost effective strategy for addressing micronutrients at scale.

“With funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the international NGO Technoserve’s Strengthening African Processors of Fortified Foods (SAPFF) project takes a holistic approach to promoting the competitive, healthy, and effectives production of fortified foods in Nigeria.

“Following a mandate from the 2018 Nigerian Food Processing and leadership (CEO) Forum convened by Aliko Dangote and Bill Gates, SAPFF’S consultation with food-sector stakeholders compliance with national fortification standards and sustained quality management improvement.

“The MFI was created to respond to this need to support broader efforts at the digitalisation of quality control and quality assurance in Nigeria’s food sector”.