By Mercy Gadia
The Wife of the President, Oluremi Tinubu, on Thursday launched the National Community Food Bank Trust Fund and inaugurated its Board of Trustees, pledging a personal donation of N500m to support the initiative.
Speaking at the launch held at the State House in Abuja, the First Lady said the fund was established to strengthen food support systems for vulnerable households and tackle malnutrition across the country.
She described child malnutrition as a pressing national concern, stressing that millions of Nigerian children still lack consistent access to nutritious food required for healthy growth and development.
Tinubu warned that failure to address the challenge would have long-term consequences on children’s health, potential and the nation’s future.
She explained that the Community Food Bank Programme was designed as a sustainable response to make healthy and nutritious food accessible to vulnerable children under the age of 16, while strengthening community-based nutrition systems.
“This initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to advance food security and improve the well-being of Nigerians,” she said.
The programme is a collaboration between the Office of the First Lady, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and the Bank of Agriculture, aimed at building an effective and transparent food bank system nationwide.
Tinubu noted that food banks globally had proven effective in delivering nutrition to vulnerable populations through partnerships with farmers, corporate organisations, and civil society groups.
She commended stakeholders for their support and expressed confidence in the newly inaugurated Board of Trustees, describing them as individuals of integrity with the capacity to ensure transparency, efficiency and accountability in managing the fund.
“I congratulate you all and thank you for accepting this important national responsibility,” she said, while calling on more Nigerians and organisations to support the initiative.
The First Lady also commended the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, and the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Olasupo Olusi, for their roles in advancing the programme.
Earlier, Pate said the initiative came at a critical time in Nigeria’s development, noting that it aligns with ongoing health sector reforms under the Tinubu administration.
He added that efforts were being intensified to strengthen the healthcare system and expand access to primary healthcare services across the country.
The minister disclosed that anonymous donors contributed $500,000, while the Federal Government, through the Social Action Fund, committed N17bn to the programme.
At the event, major donations were also announced, with the Dangote Foundation pledging N20bn, NNPC Limited committing N10bn, and the Emeka Foundation donating N500m over five years.
The National Community Food Bank Programme is expected to be rolled out across the six geopolitical zones between April and June 2026, before full implementation in all 774 local government areas from July to December 2026.