Benue Residents Embrace Exclusive Breastfeeding Campaign with Road Walk

Otukpo, the Local Government Area in Benue State, Nigeria, buzzed with activity on Wednesday as residents joined a road walk and community sensitization campaign to champion the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding. The event aimed to educate the public on why mothers should exclusively breastfeed their infants.

Two mothers who participated shared compelling personal experiences. Mrs. Aisha Okwa, who had given birth just the day before, attested to exclusive breastfeeding being the optimal method for ensuring a healthy baby. She noted that her two older children, who were exclusively breastfed, are in excellent health. "For the two children, I also observed exclusive breastfeeding for them and I can attest that it works well for them. My children are healthy and if you see them you will love them," she stated.

Madam Ene Ogoli One, a mother of three, including a one-week-old infant, also testified to the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, sharing that she feeds her newborn every 30 minutes. Her experience further underscored the practice's value for infant well-being.

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I gave birth yesterday (Tuesday, August 4, 2026) and within one hour of her birth of I breastfed my baby and this baby is my third child. For the two children, I also observed exclusive breastfeeding for them and I can attest that it works well for them. My children are healthy and if you see them you will love them.

The Otukpo Local Government Chairman, Maxwell Ogiri, who participated in the walk, commended UNICEF for its support. He recognized mothers as the source of the "first miracle of carrying life in their womb for nine months" and assured that the local government would continue its partnership with UNICEF and other donors to advance the exclusive breastfeeding campaign.

Earlier, Mrs. Ene Omale, the Nutrition Focal Person for Otukpo, explained that the first milk, colostrum, is yellowish and crucial for preventing infant infections while promoting healthy growth and cognitive development. She advised against giving water to exclusively breastfed babies, as breast milk contains ample hydration. Supplementary feeding, she noted, should commence after six months.

The campaign is part of a broader initiative, which included the official flag-off of the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week celebration and the launch of First 1,000 Days Campaign Posters in Benue State. This statewide event, held at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi, brought together various stakeholders committed to improving maternal, newborn, and child nutrition.

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It helps mother control bleeding and it helps to develop and baby’s intelligence quotient. There is no need to give water to babies during exclusive breastfeeding because there is more than enough water in breast milk. After six months you start supplementary feeding to the babies