Oluremi Tinubu Flags Off National Community Food Bank Campaign to Tackle Child Malnutrition

Oluremi Tinubu Flags Off National Community Food Bank Campaign to Tackle Child Malnutrition

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has launched the National Advocacy and Awareness Campaign for the National Community Food Bank Programme, a nationwide initiative aimed at combating child malnutrition and improving access to nutritious food for vulnerable children under six years.

The campaign was officially flagged off in Abuja during the maiden National Traditional and Religious Leaders Summit, convened with the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Speaking at the event, the First Lady disclosed that her office would partner with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency to roll out the National Community Food Bank Programme in April 2026.

According to her, the initiative is designed to strengthen community-based nutrition support systems, improve access to safe and nutritious locally grown foods, and significantly contribute to the national drive to end child malnutrition.

“This year, the Office of the First Lady will work closely with relevant agencies and financial institutions, including the Bank of Industry and the Bank of Agriculture, alongside other partners, to ensure the successful implementation of this programme,” she said.

Senator Tinubu emphasized that traditional and religious leaders would play a central role in the success of the initiative, particularly in mobilizing communities, raising awareness, and ensuring eligible families are not excluded.

Under the programme framework, Primary Health Centres nationwide will identify and register eligible families with children under six years old. Caregivers will receive nutrition counselling and food vouchers redeemable for nutritious, locally sourced food items at designated community food banks located near health facilities.

Funding for the initiative will be drawn from a Trust Fund supported by private sector partners and well-meaning Nigerians, with oversight to be provided by credible individuals to ensure transparency and accountability.

The First Lady also congratulated health volunteers known as the National Health Fellows, wishing them success as they contribute to strengthening Nigeria’s health system while building their professional capacity.

In his remarks, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammed Alli Pate, underscored the importance of investing in human capital, particularly in maternal and child health.

“Without the people of Nigeria, no infrastructure, no oil, no gold or diamond will matter,” he stated, noting that the summit reflects President Tinubu’s recognition of the critical role traditional and religious leaders play in advancing public health outcomes.

Prof. Pate commended the First Lady for her sustained interventions in child and women’s health and reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to prioritizing the health sector.

Also speaking at the summit, the Ooni of Ife,Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, described the gathering as a practical step towards addressing pressing health challenges. He stressed the need for structured follow-up mechanisms and peer reviews to ensure tangible results.

Development partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank, highlighted the strategic importance of traditional and religious rulers in achieving universal health coverage, describing them as central to community trust and programme sustainability.

The advocacy campaign will be taken across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones, beginning with the North-East in Borno State, as part of efforts to build nationwide awareness, trust, and community oversight for the National Community Food Bank Programme.

The initiative marks a significant step in the Federal Government’s broader strategy to reduce child malnutrition and build healthier, stronger generations of Nigerian children.