The single largest investment in nutrition leadership development ever on the African continent is bearing fruit, and the North-West University (NWU) is playing an important part in it.

The Leadership Development for Accelerated Progress in Nutrition in Nigeria (LEDA-NN) project of R20 million, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is driving change in nutrition, food systems and health in Nigeria.

This programme largely involves nutritionists from the NWU designing and hosting a series of intensive leadership development workshops. It also includes efforts to ensure a sustainable impact on leadership among nutrition professionals across the rest of Africa.

Prof Johann Jerling from the Centre of Excellence for Nutrition (CEN) in the Faculty of Health Sciences says the project consists of a series of four workshops, presented over an 18-month period in Nigeria. The first two workshops took place in August and October 2022, followed by another in May 2023. The fourth workshop will be presented in September 2023.

Sixty mid- to senior-level nutrition professionals from the Nigerian government and non-governmental sectors, as well as from academia, were selected from more than 250 applicants to participate in the project.

“The project builds on CEN’s African Nutrition Leadership Programme (ANLP), which was started in 2002 and is the culmination of the work of a large group of highly dedicated and passionate people from all over the African continent.”

Prof Jerling says LEDA-NN will be a turning point in nutrition in Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa. “It contributes significantly to a critical mass of Nigerian nutrition leaders who are committed to leading the efforts required to make an impact on the nutritional status of women and children across the country.”

LEDA-NN group

The team from the NWU comprises Mr Sunday Oladiran, Dr Cornelia Conradie and Mrs Yetunde Akinmolayan. At the back are Prof Johann Jerling, Prof Robin Dolman-Macleod, Dr Olutayo Adeyemi and Dr Thabo Putu.