The Nigerian Exchange Group has expanded its child nutrition intervention, Project BLOOM, to more communities in Lagos State as part of efforts to tackle child malnutrition in underserved areas.

The latest phase of the initiative was carried out in Alimosho Local Government Area, within Lagos State Health District I, marking the third outreach under Project BLOOM, an acronym for Bringing Life to Our Overlooked Minors. The programme reached over 120 malnourished children, who received nutritional support, medical screening and caregiver education.

The Alimosho outreach followed earlier interventions in Yaba and Ajegunle, which together supported more than 320 children and about 300 caregivers. Monitoring data from the first two phases showed that over 50 per cent of the children enrolled had entered recovery.

During the outreach, staff volunteers of NGX Group worked alongside Lagos State health workers and facilitators from the Health Emergency Initiative, assisting with health screenings, data collection and caregiver engagement.

Follow-up visits are scheduled after four weeks to assess recovery progress and provide additional care where required.

Speaking on the initiative, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NGX Group, Temi Popoola, said the programme reflects the Exchange’s commitment to social development and economic resilience.

According to him, sustainable capital markets are built on strong social foundations, adding that the recovery outcomes recorded under Project BLOOM demonstrate the impact of collaboration between the public sector, civil society and the private sector.

The Executive Director of the Health Emergency Initiative, Achunine Pascal, said child malnutrition remains a major contributor to under-five mortality in Nigeria. He noted that Project BLOOM was designed to go beyond emergency food support by ensuring structured follow-up and continued care for beneficiaries.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Alimosho Local Government Area, Akinpelu Johnson, said the programme aligns with the council’s long-term strategy on early detection, prevention and effective management of child malnutrition.

Representing the Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Health District I, Solomon Adeyanju commended NGX Group for its sustained commitment to child health, describing Project BLOOM as a valuable complement to the state’s primary healthcare initiatives.