The First Lady of Jigawa State, Khadija Umar Namadi, has called on the state government and the private sector to establish fully equipped breastfeeding rooms in workplaces to promote exclusive breastfeeding among nursing mothers.
Speaking during the 2025 World Breastfeeding Week celebration in Kachi Town, Namadi, represented by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Aisha Aminu Usman, highlighted the vital health and emotional benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for both mothers and their babies.
She emphasized that government ministries, agencies, and private organizations must create enabling environments for w
“As a woman, a mother, and your First Lady, I understand the challenges of caring for a newborn.
“Breastfeeding is more than nourishment; it is life, protection, and love. It’s the first vaccine a child receives and a powerful act that combats malnutrition and diseases,” she said.
She acknowledged the numerous challenges women face, such as poor awareness, limited health services, harmful cultural beliefs, and poverty. These, she said, often force mothers to choose between their jobs and their babies.
“Many mothers, civil servants, teachers, healthcare workers, and traders are left with the painful choice of either earning a living or nurturing their infants. This should never be the case,” she stated.
Usman urged the urgent establishment of breastfeeding rooms and crèches in all workplaces, both public and private, stressing that such facilities should be considered a policy priority, not a luxury.
“A state that supports mothers and children is laying the foundation for a healthier and more prosperous society.
“World Breastfeeding Week is a reminder of the life-saving power of breastfeeding. Let us leave here with renewed commitment to promote, protect, and support this natural act across Jigawa State,” she said.
She also noted that under Governor Malam Umar Namadi’s administration, all Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs), including the one in Kachi, are equipped to support breastfeeding mothers.
In addition, community health volunteers have been trained to educate families on proper infant nutrition, particularly in rural communities.
“Breastfeeding is not just a mother’s responsibility, it’s a community responsibility,” she said.
Also speaking at the event, the State Nutrition Officer, Mr. Muhammad Abdullahi, emphasized the medical and economic importance of exclusive breastfeeding, describing it as the most effective and affordable way to nourish infants during their first six months.
According to the 2023 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), only about 29 to 30 percent of mothers in Jigawa practice exclusive breastfeeding.
Mr. Abdullahi appealed to fathers, traditional rulers, and religious leaders to champion breastfeeding advocacy by sensitizing their communities about its role in a child’s mental and physical development.
