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Lagos state exclusive breastfeeding rate has climbed to 57.4 percent, surpassing the global benchmark of 50 percent.
Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi, the special adviser to the governor on health, disclosed this at the official flag-off of the 2025 World Breastfeeding Week (WBW), in Lagos, on Tuesday.
Ogunyemi described the achievement as a clear sign of progress in the state’s maternal and child nutrition efforts, but stressed that the low rate of early initiation of breastfeeding, currently at just 14 percent remains a major concern.
Early initiation refers to putting babies to breast within the first hour of birth, a practice known to significantly improve neonatal health outcomes.
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“When babies miss out on colostrum, which is rich in antibodies, their immunity is compromised from the start,” she said, attributing the low initiation rates to service delivery gaps, misinformation, and the common use of pre-lacteal feeds like glucose water and infant formula.
The theme for this year’s WBW, “Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems,” underscores the need for continuous investment in structural and social support for nursing mothers.
Ogunyemi emphasized that beyond advocacy, the state government is focused on institutionalizing long-term support systems, especially in the workplace.
She highlighted the six-month paid maternity leave and wo-week paternity leavefor the first two deliveries across Lagos public institutions as part of this commitment, calling on private employers to adopt the same standard.
“This forward-thinking policy enables families to prioritize breastfeeding in those crucial first six months. We urge private employers to adopt this standard,” she said.
The special adviser also noted that Lagos’ 334 Primary Health Centres and more than 20 Mother and Child Centres, equipped with skilled paediatric personnel and intensive care units, continue to play a key role in promoting optimal breastfeeding practices through health education, antenatal counselling and training of midwives.
Dr. Folashade Oludara, the director of family health and nutrition at the State Ministry of Health, called breastfeeding the most economical and effective food source for infants, especially during Nigeria’s current economic climate.
Oludara dismissed myths about breastfeeding causing saggy breasts, even as she reiterated its protective benefits against breast cancer. “Exclusive breastfeeding is free, readily available, and has no side effects. Now more than ever, mothers should embrace it fully,” she said.
Dr. (Mrs.) Lola Alonge, UN nutrition champion and founder of Child Health Advocacy Initiative (CHAI), commended Lagos for pioneering the six-month maternity leave policy over a decade ago, adopted by only nine other states to date.
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“Private organizations employ more women than government institutions. Until they offer six-month paid maternity leave, our breastfeeding targets will remain unmet,” she said, advocating the establishment of breastmilk banks in Nigeria.
Mrs. Wunmi Ajayi, the state team lead for the Alive and Thrive Project, reinforced the importance of early initiation of breastfeeding, calling it fundamental to a successful exclusive breastfeeding journey.
“If that critical window is missed, it becomes harder for mothers to sustain breastfeeding. The support is there; mothers just need to cooperate,” she added.
