By Excellence Oseose
A Team Europe delegation led by the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, has visited NutriK’s production facility in Kano, highlighting the role of local manufacturing and partnerships in tackling malnutrition and supporting economic development in northern Nigeria.
The delegation, which included ambassadors and representatives from European Union member states and UNICEF, toured the company’s facility at the Kano Free Trade Zone as part of a broader mission to assess initiatives promoting nutrition, healthcare, sustainable livelihoods and economic growth in the region.
NutriK’s, a French-Nigerian company and subsidiary of the France-based Nutriset Group, produces Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), a specialized nutritional product used in the treatment of severe acute malnutrition among children.
During the visit, NutriK’s Managing Director, Abdoulkader Yonli, disclosed that the company is investing in local processing capacity and expects to begin sourcing groundnuts from Nigerian farmers within the coming months.
The company currently relies on imported groundnuts because locally processed supplies do not yet meet the required quality standards. However, NutriK’s is working closely with local producers to improve processing systems and ensure compliance with international standards.
According to Yonli, increased use of locally sourced groundnuts and soybeans will reduce production costs, boost manufacturing capacity and strengthen the agricultural value chain.
“Using locally grown groundnuts as well as soya will significantly reduce costs, allow us to expand production and positively impact the entire value chain, from farming and processing to distribution and employment,” he said.
He emphasized the company’s commitment to combating malnutrition through both treatment and prevention programmes, noting that demand for therapeutic food products in Nigeria remains far higher than current production levels.
“Currently there are two facilities of this kind in Nigeria, in Kano and Lagos, while most Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food products are still sourced from abroad. The demand remains much higher than our production capacities,” Yonli added.
NutriK’s recently relocated its operations to the Kano Free Trade Zone following an expansion project financed by Proparco, the private-sector financing arm of the French Development Agency Group. The investment is aimed at strengthening local manufacturing and building more resilient nutrition supply chains.
The expansion also reflects the growing role of the Kano Free Trade Zone in attracting investment and supporting industrial development in northern Nigeria.
The company currently employs 180 workers directly, while many others benefit indirectly through supply chains, service provision and agricultural activities linked to its operations. Industry stakeholders expect the number of farmers participating in the value chain to increase significantly as local sourcing expands.
Speaking during the visit, Ambassador Mignot commended the company’s contribution to both child nutrition and economic development.
“The products manufactured here are helping to support vulnerable children while demonstrating how investment, innovation and business-friendly conditions created by the Kano authorities contribute to human development and economic growth,” he said.
He noted that the visit provided an opportunity for the delegation to assess progress on the ground and explore deeper collaboration among Kano State, the European Union, UNICEF and private-sector partners.
“We came here to learn more about the progress being made, engage with partners on the ground and explore how collaboration between Kano, the European Union, UNICEF and the private sector can continue to deliver results,” Mignot added.
According to UNICEF, an estimated two million children in Nigeria currently suffer from severe acute malnutrition, underscoring the urgent need for expanded access to therapeutic nutrition products and sustainable interventions to address the challenge.