The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme in Kano State has trained journalists, media practitioners, health educators and nutrition focal persons from eight local government areas on Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) as part of efforts to address the challenge of malnutrition in the state.

KANO FOCUS reports that the one-day training, held on Wednesday, was organised by the SAPZ Programme in collaboration with the Kano State Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The programme is a flagship initiative of the Federal Government, supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).

The training aimed at strengthening participants’ understanding of the SAPZ programme while enhancing their capacity to effectively communicate nutrition-sensitive messages to the public. It also sought to equip media professionals with accurate information and promote sustained partnerships for consistent and impactful reporting on nutrition-related issues in Kano State.

Speaking at the event, the Knowledge Management and Communication Officer of the SAPZ Kano Project, Hajiya Rabi Mustafa Sadiq, said the initiative was designed to raise awareness among journalists and other stakeholders on the critical role of Behaviour Change Communication in improving dietary habits and nutrition outcomes.

She explained that the programme seeks to provide media practitioners with reliable and consistent information to enable them champion nutrition advocacy and effectively disseminate key messages to the public.

Hajiya Rabi disclosed that the SAPZ project is currently supporting more than 14,000 households across Kano State through nutrition-sensitive interventions, including intercropping activities involving bio-fortified crops such as high iron and zinc rice.

According to her, bio-fortified crops contain higher levels of essential micronutrients required by the human body, and their consumption can significantly improve vitamin A, iron and zinc intake among beneficiaries. She added that increased production of such commodities would enhance access to nutritious food for smallholder farming households and improve overall household nutrition.

Presenting a paper titled “Fundamentals of Behaviour Change Communication and Its Role in Improving Nutrition Outcomes in Kano State,” Dr. Ruqayyah Yusuf Aliyu of the Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano, emphasised the crucial role of the media in influencing dietary behaviour through awareness creation and evidence-based reporting.

She noted that although behaviour change is often difficult, deliberate and sustained communication by the media can positively shape public attitudes towards balanced diets. Dr. Ruqayyah described behaviour change as a gradual process that involves modifying actions and mindsets over time through consistent and targeted messaging.

Facilitators at the workshop highlighted the severity of malnutrition in Kano State, citing UNICEF 2025 data which shows that 51.9 per cent of children in the state are stunted, while 42.6 per cent of children under the age of five are underweight. They warned that malnutrition has far-reaching consequences on children’s growth and development, women’s health and overall community productivity.

Other challenges identified during the training included inadequate knowledge among rural farmers on best practices for sesame cultivation, leading to losses during harvesting, storage and processing.

In his address, the Permanent Secretary of the Kano State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Bashir Sunusi, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to achieving food security. He highlighted ongoing investments in dam rehabilitation, irrigation facilities, dry-season farming programmes, as well as the recruitment of 1,038 personnel to strengthen service delivery in the agricultural sector.

The training ended with a call for proactive media engagement on nutrition issues and the inauguration of a committee to champion Behaviour Change Communication for improved nutrition in Kano State, with monitoring mechanisms put in place to track its activities.