Nigeria’s fight against hunger received a major boost on Thursday as Wife of the President, Oluremi Tinubu, launched the National Community Food Bank Programme, pledging N500,000 from her office to kick-start the initiative.
The launch also drew commitments from the private sector, state governments, and other partners, bringing total pledges to over ₦60 billion.
The unveiling, which held at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja, also featured the inauguration of the programme’s Board of Trustees, marking a decisive step to tackle child malnutrition across the country.
Addressing stakeholders, the First Lady warned that millions of Nigerian children remain at risk due to poor access to nutritious food, stressing that urgent action is needed to secure the nation’s future.
She explained that the initiative targets vulnerable children under the age of six, providing consistent access to healthy meals while strengthening community-based nutrition systems nationwide.
According to her, the programme aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, with a clear focus on food security and child welfare.
Major pledges came from key players, including the Aliko Dangote Foundation, which committed N20 billion in-kind support over five years, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC Limited with N10 billion, and the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation with N500 million.
State governments under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum also pledged additional support, contributing to a total funding pool exceeding ₦60 billion.
Development partners, including Unicef, also promised to support the initiative, committing technical expertise, capacity building, and logistical support to ensure the programme reaches communities nationwide.
They emphasised that coordinated efforts between government, private sector, and development partners are critical to addressing child malnutrition and promoting long-term food security.
Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, assured that governors would provide counterpart funding to complement federal efforts.
The First Lady urged more Nigerians, organisations, and institutions to join the initiative, which will be rolled out across all six geopolitical zones.
She formally inaugurated the Board of Trustees, expressing confidence that the fund would be managed with transparency, accountability, and efficiency.
The Community Food Bank Programme is expected to bridge the gap between food surplus and need, delivering life-saving nutrition to millions of vulnerable children and families across Nigeria.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
