Oyo Marks World Breastfeeding Week, Urges Support for Nursing Mothers

The Oyo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to improving child nutrition and promoting exclusive breastfeeding as it commemorated the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week.

In a post shared on its official X page, the state government said the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, under the leadership of its Executive Secretary, Dr. Muyideen Babatunde Olatunji, marked the event on Wednesday at the Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital, Yemetu, Ibadan.

The celebration was held under the theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works.”

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, stressed the importance of breastfeeding in improving infant health and survival.

She said breastfeeding “provides complete nutrition for the first six months of life, protects babies against diarrhoea, pneumonia and malnutrition, strengthens the immune system and supports optimal brain development.”

The commissioner also highlighted the health benefits for mothers, noting that breastfeeding reduces the risk of postpartum haemorrhage, breast cancer, ovarian cancer and type 2 diabetes while strengthening the bond between mother and child.

Ajetunmobi called on employers to create enabling environments for nursing mothers.

She also urged “employers to create breastfeeding-friendly workplaces, on fathers to become active partners in supporting breastfeeding mothers, and on traditional and religious leaders to continue promoting positive cultural practices that encourage exclusive breastfeeding.”

The commissioner further commended development partners, including UNICEF, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), for their continued investment in child nutrition programmes across Oyo State.