By Jimoh Babatunde

LAGOS — Efforts to improve food fortification compliance in Nigeria are set for a major boost as TechnoServe engages industry stakeholders to shape the next phase of the Micronutrient Fortification Index (MFI), an industry-led initiative designed to enhance compliance and accountability in food fortification.

At a stakeholder roundtable held in Lagos, representatives of flour, sugar and edible oil milling companies, regulators and development partners reviewed the progress of the index and provided recommendations for the development of MFI 2.0.

Speaking at the event, TechnoServe Country Director, Adesuwa Akinboro, said the engagement was aimed at gathering honest feedback from stakeholders on the successes, challenges and opportunities associated with the index.

She noted that discussions focused on strengthening incentives for food fortification, improving regulatory frameworks and deploying technology to support compliance and monitoring.

According to her, the insights generated from the discussions will help ensure that MFI 2.0 responds to the evolving needs of the industry and supports Nigeria’s food fortification objectives.

“With Nigeria’s population projected to reach about 400 million by 2050, it is critical that food fortification programmes remain effective and sustainable,” she said.

Director of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition at the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Eva Edwards, described the Micronutrient Fortification Index as a transformative, data-driven tool that complements regulatory efforts by encouraging voluntary compliance among food manufacturers.

She said the initiative provides valuable information for regulatory monitoring, policy formulation and the strengthening of Nigeria’s food fortification programme, while commending stakeholders for supporting the initiative.

Providing an overview of the programme, Ayodele Tella, LSFF Portfolio Lead at TechnoServe, said the organisation launched the market-based initiative in 2016 with support from the Gates Foundation to improve fortification compliance across the food industry.

She noted that participation in the index has grown significantly, with the number of participating companies increasing from four pioneer firms to 18 companies representing more than 30 brands across the flour, sugar and edible oil sectors.

According to her, while progress has been recorded, the index requires refinement to reflect current industry realities and drive further improvements in food fortification.

She urged manufacturers to view investments in fortification as a critical contribution to addressing malnutrition in the country.

Speaking on the proposed MFI 2.0 framework, Senior Specialist and Portfolio Lead for Agri-food Systems Innovation, Tobi Durotoye, said the revised model is designed to encourage greater adoption while improving the nutritional quality of staple foods.

He disclosed that the initiative has collected over 15,000 data points across Nigeria and Kenya, generating insights into opportunities for strengthening fortification systems.

Durotoye explained that while many companies have improved their internal processes, gaps remain in product quality assurance, necessitating a redesign of the evaluation framework.

“The redesign is intended to make the assessment process more efficient, evidence-based and focused on continuous improvement,” he said.

Stakeholders at the meeting welcomed the proposed reforms and praised TechnoServe for its training and technical support in advancing large-scale food fortification in Nigeria.

Managing Director of Rightway Consult, Margaret Eshiett, said the MFI has demonstrated how industry-led accountability can complement regulatory oversight and improve compliance.

She called for the adoption of risk-based monitoring systems that are more resource-efficient and capable of providing incentives for companies that participate in accountability initiatives such as the MFI.
“There is a future in the MFI, and it can play a significant role in strengthening food fortification compliance across the industry,” she said.