The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) has announced the successful completion of its five-year Strengthening Nutrition in Priority Staples (SNiPS) Project, implemented across four Nigerian states—Benue, Oyo, Kaduna, and Nasarawa—and sixteen local government areas, with a total investment of approximately $10 million.

The project focused on improving nutrition outcomes, enhancing agricultural productivity, and strengthening food systems through the promotion of biofortified staple crops, including maize, cassava, and orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP).

At the project’s close-out ceremony held on 27th November 2025 at Exclusive Serene Hotel, Abuja, Michael Ojo, GAIN Country Director, highlighted the project’s achievements, emphasizing the transition “from merely feeding people to nourishing people.” 

He detailed how SNiPS reached nearly 10,000 farmers, supported over 40,000 smallholder households in improving diets through home gardens and increased production of biofortified crops, and worked with 800 women- and youth-led agribusinesses, 30 of which achieved NAFDAC certification for national and international market access. He also noted that the project had reached over 23 million Nigerians with nutrition awareness campaigns and strengthened seed systems through certified multipliers, ensuring sustainability.

Representing the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Nuhu Adamu Kilishi, Director of Nutrition and Food Safety, praised GAIN and its partners for advancing nutrition-sensitive agriculture. He highlighted federal interventions supporting farmers, including provision of inputs, mechanization, climate-smart agriculture, good agricultural practices, and market access. Kilishi urged the state governments involved to sustain and scale the project’s achievements, emphasizing the need for continued collaboration with MDAs, private sector actors, and stakeholders to ensure food and nutrition security.

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director General of NAFDAC, lauded the project for its impact on nutrition outcomes and commended the strong partnership between NAFDAC and GAIN. She highlighted the project’s role in advancing food fortification, safety, and regulatory strengthening, while strengthening priority value chains for Vitamin A cassava, maize, and OFSP.

Speaking on behalf of the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development described SNiPS as a significant milestone in the state’s efforts to build a more nutrition-sensitive and food-secure agricultural system. He emphasized the importance of integrating nutrition-sensitive approaches into staple crops to improve household diets, particularly for women and children, and noted the project’s contributions to empowering farmers, strengthening cooperatives, and improving market linkages.

In his heartfelt opening remarks, the Senior Project Manager at GAIN shared the human stories behind the project’s success. He recalled meeting Mama Ene in Benue, who proudly showcased her freshly harvested OFSP, saying it had transformed the way she feeds her children. He also highlighted Harry, a young processor in Kaduna, who gained confidence in his business after obtaining regulatory approval, and farmers in Kaduna who felt that cultivating vitamin A maize allowed them to “fight hunger and build health at the same time.” He stressed that these stories underscore the human impact of SNiPS beyond metrics and statistics.

Several beneficiaries expressed joy and gratitude to GAIN for the opportunity, noting how the project had strengthened their businesses, improved their livelihoods, and enhanced household nutrition.

The event culminated in the presentation of awards to partners and participating states in recognition of their dedication, collaboration, and commitment to the successful completion of the five-year project.

GAIN reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s agricultural and nutrition agenda, strengthening food systems, and expanding access to nutritious staple foods, while ensuring that the achievements of SNiPS are sustained and scaled across the country.

GAIN Completes Five-Year SNiPS Project, Invests $10m to Strengthen Nutrition and Food Systems in Nigeria

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) has announced the successful completion of its five-year Strengthening Nutrition in Priority Staples (SNiPS) Project, implemented across four states and sixteen local government areas in Nigeria with a total investment of approximately ten million US dollar

Speaking at the project’s Close-Out Ceremony, Michael Ojo, GAIN Country Director, highlighted the significant achievements recorded in improving nutrition, enhancing agricultural productivity, and strengthening food systems.

According to him, a major component of the project was biofortification, a proven strategy to enrich staple foods such as maize, cassava, and orange-fleshed sweet potato with essential micronutrients.

He noted that the project successfully increased awareness among farmers and consumers, strengthened value chains, and promoted wider production and consumption of nutrient-rich crops.

“What we have seen is a transition from merely feeding people to nourishing people. Transforming Nigeria’s food systems means ensuring they deliver nourishment, not just food,” Ojo said.

Key Achievements of the SNiPS Project includes: 

Reached nearly 10,000 farmers, all of whom have adopted biofortified or improved crop varieties.

Supported over 40,000 smallholder farming households to improve their diets through home gardens and increased production of biofortified crops and vegetables.

Worked with nearly 800 women- and youth-led agribusinesses, with about 30 obtaining NAFDAC certification, enabling them to access national and international markets.

Developed and strengthened a network of seed multipliers, certified by the National Agricultural Seed Council, ensuring sustainable seed supply for biofortified crops.

Reached over 23 million Nigerians with messages promoting the benefits of consuming biofortified staples.

Ojo emphasized that the project’s success reflects strong collaboration between GAIN and government agencies including SMEDAN, NIMET, and NAFDAC, as well as the commitment of Benue, Oyo, Kaduna, and Nasarawa States to sustain and expand the gains made.

He reiterated that while international organisations implement time-bound projects, sustainability depends on government ownership and private-sector investment.

 “We have demonstrated the proof of concept; it works. The states are ready to continue the work, and new projects must build on these achievements,” he added.

The SNiPS Project has delivered a holistic, seed-to-plate approach involving production, processing, business development, and consumer awareness — leaving behind a strengthened framework for improved nutrition and food security.

Representing the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Director of Nutrition and Food Safety, Nuhu Adamu Kilishi, praised GAIN and all partners for their dedication to improving food and nutrition outcomes across the SNiPS focal states.

He highlighted a series of interventions the Ministry has implemented to enhance smallholder farmer productivity and livelihoods — including the provision of agricultural inputs, mechanisation support, training on good agricultural practices, climate-smart agriculture initiatives, and market access facilitation.

Kilishi emphasized that: “The Ministry has put in place policies and strategies to ensure food and nutrition security. We will continue to collaborate with MDAs, States, the private sector, and all stakeholders to achieve this mandate.”

He reiterated the Ministry’s call for the Governments of Oyo, Benue, Kaduna, and Nasarawa States to sustain and build on the achievements of the SNiPS Project, noting with satisfaction the commitments expressed by state representatives at the ceremony.

 “The current data on nutrition calls for scaling up impactful projects such as this. The progress made must be sustained, and I commend all partners for their tireless efforts,” he added.

The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, praised the initiative for its significant contribution to improving nutrition outcomes across Benue, Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Oyo States.

 “Over the years, NAFDAC and GAIN have built a strong, strategic partnership anchored on our shared mandate to ensure that Nigerians have access to safe, nutritious, and affordable foods,” she stated. “Together, we have advanced national efforts in food fortification, food safety, market-based nutrition, and regulatory system strengthening.”

Prof. Adeyeye noted that the SNIPS Project exemplifies the value of collaborative efforts in improving food systems. By strengthening priority value chains — Vitamin A cassava, Vitamin A maize, and Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato — the project has:

The Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, speaking on behalf of the Governor, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde, commended partners, implementing agencies, and farming communities for their contributions to the successful completion of the Strengthening Nutrition in Priority Staples (SNiPS) Project. The statement was delivered today, 27th November 2025, at the project’s close-out ceremony held at Exclusive Serene Hotel, Wuye, Abuja.

The Commissioner described the event as a significant milestone in the State’s ongoing efforts to build a more food-secure and nutrition-sensitive agricultural system.

 “The SNiPS Project has demonstrated that improving agricultural productivity must go hand in hand with improving nutrition outcomes,” he said. “By integrating nutrition-sensitive approaches into staple crops such as maize, cassava, and Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP), we are increasing yields while improving household diets—especially for women and children.”

Earlier in a heartfelt statement delivered by the Senior Project Manager, GAIN reflected on the powerful human stories and community transformations that shaped the five-year project, which focused on improving nutrition outcomes through biofortified and nutritious staple crops across four Nigerian states.

According to the Senior Project Manager, the SNiPS journey has had profound human impact beyond its programmatic successes.

He recalled meeting Mama Ene, a mother from Benue State, who proudly showcased her freshly harvested Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) and shared how it had improved the way she feeds her children. Similarly, Harry, a young processor from Kaduna, expressed renewed confidence in his business after obtaining regulatory approval through the project, saying, “Now I believe my product has a future.”

He also highlighted the voices of farmers in Kaduna who noted that cultivating vitamin A maize made them feel as though they were planting “something that could fight hunger and build health at the same time.”

“These are the stories that gave meaning to the SNiPS Project,” he said. “They remind us that behind every data point is a human being hoping for a better tomorrow.”

GAIN reaffirmed its dedication to supporting Nigeria’s agricultural and nutrition agenda, strengthening food systems, and expanding access to nutritious staple foods for households across the country.

Several beneficiaries of the initiative expressed profound joy and gratitude to GAIN for the opportunity and support received throughout the project. They noted that the intervention had improved their livelihoods, strengthened their businesses, and enhanced the nutritional wellbeing of their families.

The highpoint of the event was the presentation of awards to deserving partners and participating states, in recognition of their dedication, collaboration, and commitment to the successful completion of the five-year SNiPS Project.