By Isaac Olufemi Ojo
Ibadan — As the global community marks World Breastfeeding Week, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for concerted multi-sectoral support to improve breastfeeding indices across Southwest Nigeria, describing breastmilk as a child’s “first vaccine.”
The Chief of UNICEF Field Office in Lagos, covering Southwest Nigeria, Celine Lafoucriere, made the call in a statement issued this week as Nigeria joins the rest of the world to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week 2026.
She lamented that despite high overall breastfeeding rates, optimal and exclusive breastfeeding remains abysmally low in the region.
According to Lafoucriere, while most Nigerian mothers breastfeed, critical gaps persist in the timing and exclusivity of the practice.
“Only one in three babies are put to the breast within the first hour of birth. Only three in ten babies are exclusively breastfed for six full months—no water, no formula, no solid food, just breastmilk alone,” she noted.
Highlighting the socioeconomic landscape of the Southwest—characterized by bustling markets, corporate workplaces, and active working mothers—the UNICEF chief insisted that the region possesses the capacity to reverse the trend. She stressed, however, that a nursing mother cannot shoulder the responsibility alone.
While outlining specific responsibilities for various segments of society, Lafoucriere issued a direct charge to employers, healthcare providers, families, and communities to give the necessary support to nursing mothers during this crucial period
However, she commended all mothers who are already navigating the demanding early stages of infant care, particularly in urban centers like Lagos, for their dedication.
“To every mother in Lagos feeding her child right now, alone in the quiet hours of the night, we see you. You are giving your child their first and best gift. UNICEF, her partners, and your government stand with you,” she affirmed.
