At the recently concluded International Health Economics Association (iHEA) World Congress 2025 in Bali, Indonesia, Augustine Aghogho Omodieke, Health Financing Team Lead at HSDF, delivered a powerful presentation on the outcomes of an optimization modeling study conducted across four Nigerian states.

His presentation highlighted the persistent burden of malnutrition in Nigeria and examined the country’s nutrition commitments at both national and sub-national levels. Augustine emphasized the value of prioritizing an optimal mix of nutrition-specific interventions – strategically guided by data and resource optimization – to accelerate progress toward national nutrition targets. Drawing on case studies from Kano, Kaduna, Abia, and Oyo, he demonstrated how smarter allocation of existing resources, combined with modest investment increases, could meaningfully improve nutrition outcomes and shift the national nutrition narrative.

The session underscored allocative efficiency as a critical lever for achieving nutrition and broader health system goals, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The presentation sparked a dynamic plenary discussion, where Augustine reinforced HSDF’s role in supporting African policymakers to make evidence-informed decisions that drive efficiency and impact in resource-constrained settings.

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