Lagos State Leads the Way in Postnatal Infant Nutrition
Lagos State has become a global model for postnatal infant nutrition, even as Nigeria continues to face challenges in early and exclusive breastfeeding. A recent report coinciding with the 2025 World Breastfeeding Week highlights that Lagos achieved an exclusive breastfeeding rate of 57.4 per cent, surpassing the global target of 50 per cent for 2025. This achievement is significant and demonstrates the state’s commitment to improving child health.
The success of Lagos in promoting exclusive breastfeeding is rooted in its strong support systems for mothers. The state has institutionalised a six-month maternity leave and two weeks of paternity leave for the first two deliveries in all public institutions. These policies provide crucial time and support for mothers to focus on their babies’ nutritional needs.
Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, highlighted efforts to address the low rate of early initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour of birth. Currently, only 14 per cent of newborns in the state experience this critical moment. This low rate is attributed to gaps in service delivery, misinformation, and the use of glucose water or infant formula as pre-lacteal feeds. When babies miss out on colostrum, which is rich in antibodies, their immunity is compromised from the start.
To tackle these issues, midwives and birth attendants receive training to better support new mothers. This initiative aims to improve the quality of care and encourage more women to breastfeed exclusively.
Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that between 2015 and 2021, 53 per cent of newborns were breastfed within one hour of birth, while 45 per cent of infants under six months received exclusive breastfeeding. The target is to increase this to 70 per cent worldwide by 2030. Additionally, 67 per cent of women breastfeed for at least one year, with an 80 per cent global goal by 2030.
The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for a baby’s first six months, followed by the introduction of safe, nutritionally adequate complementary foods while continuing breastfeeding up to two years or longer. This approach promotes optimal growth, development, and health. However, many Nigerian mothers do not follow these guidelines.
According to UNICEF, there has been a concerning drop in early breastfeeding initiation from 42 per cent in 2018 to 23 per cent in 2021. Nigeria’s 2018 Demographic and Health Survey recorded a 29 per cent exclusive breastfeeding rate, and continued breastfeeding at two years decreased from 28 per cent to 23 per cent over time. The 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey reports that exclusive breastfeeding is around 34 per cent nationwide, with some states like Niger reporting only 15 per cent adherence to six months of exclusive breastfeeding.
Inadequate breastfeeding practices have severe consequences. According to UNICEF, these practices cost Nigeria about 103,742 preventable child deaths annually, with an economic impact of approximately $12 billion (N16.2 trillion) in future losses, rising to $21 billion (N28.35 trillion) in total losses when considering cognitive and healthcare costs.
Some women cannot practice exclusive breastfeeding due to work demands, especially self-employed mothers who cannot afford maternity leave and must work to support their families. Others face myths and misconceptions, such as the belief that breastfeeding causes breasts to sag or that small breasts produce insufficient milk. Medical experts clarify that these changes are often due to weight fluctuations and genetics, not breastfeeding itself.
Other false beliefs include the misconception that colostrum is harmful, when it is actually rich in antibodies and vital nutrients. Some mothers also believe that male babies require formula because breast milk will not satisfy them, which is not true. Breast milk nourishes all babies equally, regardless of gender.
Public enlightenment is essential to dispel myths and encourage antenatal care attendance, where education on breastfeeding is provided. Unfortunately, some pregnant women fail to attend antenatal visits, increasing risks for maternal and child mortality. This issue must be eradicated through improved access to healthcare services.
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months offers numerous benefits. It strengthens a baby’s immune system, reduces the risk of infections, lowers the risk of chronic diseases, and supports better cognitive and behavioural development. For mothers, it aids postpartum weight loss, fosters a special bond with the baby, and lowers the risk of various cancers. It also promotes uterine contraction and provides free, readily available nutrition.
Raising children is a significant investment, and every government should prioritise supporting mothers in exclusive breastfeeding, recognising it as a national service and public health imperative. Healthy children build a strong nation.
Scandinavian countries exemplify this commitment through generous parental leave policies. Sweden offers 390 days of paid parental leave at 80 per cent salary, Bulgaria 410 days at 90 per cent, Norway 413 days at 80 per cent or 343 days at full pay, and Iceland nine months shared equally between parents at about 80 per cent pay. The UK provides 273 days at 90 per cent pay, and Slovakia offers 238 days at 75 per cent pay.
Many countries are advocating for paternity leave so fathers can support their partners and bond with newborns. Lagos’s achievement is a positive development, now followed by nine other states. Ideally, all Nigerian states should adopt similar measures, granting six months of paid maternity leave and at least two weeks of paternity leave.
Crucially, fathers should use this time to support breastfeeding their babies at home instead of socialising elsewhere. This involvement helps children grow up knowing both their fathers and mothers, reinforcing the vital role of men in family health.
The private sector should actively support exclusive breastfeeding by offering up to a six-month maternity leave to their female workers. Workplace breastfeeding facilities should also be encouraged. While Lagos is leading by example in exclusive breastfeeding practices, it is only through coordinated efforts and strong commitment that Nigeria can hope to improve child nutrition and reduce preventable child mortality.