The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare says it will join the global community in commemorating World Breastfeeding Week 2026 with community outreach, health worker training, media campaigns and other advocacy activities across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The ministry said Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, will address the media during the national commemoration, and called on Nigerians to support mothers in breastfeeding according to national recommendations, describing collective action to protect and promote breastfeeding as an investment in healthier children and stronger families.

This year’s theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life, Strengthen What Works,” focuses on building on proven strategies while evaluating progress on nutrition, food security and poverty reduction. The ministry said breastfeeding remains foundational to lifelong health, supporting immunity, brain development and child survival, while also reducing healthcare costs and advancing food security. It called for early initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continued breastfeeding alongside complementary foods up to two years or beyond, describing breast milk as safe, affordable and the first line of protection against many childhood illnesses, and noting that greater breastfeeding uptake also helps families avoid the cost of infant formula.