Community Pot Launches Nutripreneurship to Tackle Toddler Malnutrition Sustainably
Community-driven initiative to empower mothers, nurses, and local food vendors as nutrition champions
In a bold step towards eradicating toddler malnutrition in Nigeria, Community Pot has officially launched a Nutripreneurship program under its Nutrition Support Centre (NSC). The initiative is designed to empower community members—especially mothers, nurses, and small-scale food vendors; to become ‘Nutrition Champions’ while earning sustainable income.
Speaking during the launch announcement, Founder, Community Pot Oluwakemi Jeje, explained that this new entrepreneurship arm is a practical response to a recurring gap. While many children graduate from Community Pot’s rehabilitation programs in good health, some fall back into malnutrition within months due to lack of nutritional support and access to affordable, nutrient-dense foods in their communities.
“We realised many of these children return to being underweight just three months after recovery. Why? Because when they go home, there’s often no support system; no guidance, no access to proper toddler food. That’s the gap we’re closing with NSC,” she said.
Mothers with their babies during one of Community Pot’s outreaches in Ibadan
According to her, the Nutripreneurship program is hosted within the same communities where NSC already operates—usually near primary healthcare centers and general hospitals. These locations already serve as hubs for nutritional rehabilitation of children between 6 months and 5 years old.
Now, the program is expanding by onboarding everyday people: mothers whose children have gone through the NSC program, respected community nurses, and women already selling toddler food products. They are being trained, equipped, and supported to help bridge the nutrition gap from clinic to home.
Alongside this community onboarding, Jeje also called on food manufacturers to partner in the initiative, stating their requirements for qualification:
Rich in micronutrients, protein, or healthy fats
Properly certified for public consumption
Packaged in affordable single-use sizes for easy access
Manufacturers willing to supply these at discounted rates will benefit from Community Pot’s last-mile distribution network, which connects directly to communities in need. The goal is to create a sustainable supply chain that prevents relapse into malnutrition while promoting economic empowerment, she explained.
