Oluremi Tinubu Launches National Food Bank Programme as N65bn Fund Targets 500,000 Nigerian Households
Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has launched the National Community Food Bank Programme aimed at reaching 500,000 vulnerable households within its first year, as a total of N65 billion was mobilised through government commitments and private sector donations to combat hunger and malnutrition nationwide.
The initiative, unveiled on Thursday, is designed as a strategic intervention to tackle food insecurity and improve access to nutritious meals, particularly for children under the age of six. According to the First Lady, the programme aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, focusing on strengthening community-based nutrition systems and ensuring no child suffers from hunger.
Speaking at the launch and inauguration of the Board of Trustees of the Community Food Bank Trust Fund, Mrs. Tinubu described the programme as a sustainable solution to bridging the gap between food surplus and scarcity through partnerships with farmers, corporate organisations, and civil society groups.
She announced a personal donation of N500 million to the fund and commended major contributors, including the Aliko Dangote Foundation, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, which pledged N10 billion over five years, and the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, which contributed N500 million.
The Federal Government committed N17 billion through a special intervention under the Social Action Fund, a pledge matched by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, bringing the total funding pool to over N65 billion. Additional support included an initial $500,000 donation from anonymous partners.
Chairman of the NGF and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, emphasised the urgency of addressing food insecurity, noting that over one-third of Nigerian children under five are stunted due to chronic undernutrition. He pledged the commitment of state governments to collaborate with federal authorities in implementing the programme.
Also speaking, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Mohammed Ali Pate, described nutrition as both a national priority and moral obligation, stressing that poor nutrition remains a major contributor to child mortality and stunted growth in the country.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, highlighted the programme as a shift from ad-hoc interventions to a structured, measurable system capable of reducing post-harvest losses and improving food distribution nationwide.
On implementation, Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Ayodeji Sotinrin, disclosed that the fund is domiciled within the institution and will operate under strict governance protocols. He explained that disbursements would require approval from multiple trustees, while procurement and distribution would leverage the bank’s nationwide network and the primary healthcare system to reach beneficiaries at the grassroots level.
Representing the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Hamisu Mohammed reaffirmed the critical role of local governments in ensuring the success of the initiative, particularly in delivering support directly to communities.
The Board of Trustees of the Community Food Bank Trust Fund includes the First Lady as Chairman, with key stakeholders from the health and agriculture sectors serving as members to provide oversight and ensure transparency.
The National Community Food Bank Programme is expected to be rolled out across all six geopolitical zones, marking a significant step in Nigeria’s efforts to combat hunger and malnutrition through coordinated, community-driven solutions.
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