Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has launched the Community Food Bank Trust Fund and inaugurated its Board of Trustees, committing a personal donation of ₦500 million to strengthen efforts to tackle malnutrition and food insecurity nationwide.
Also, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, revealed that the initiative has also attracted $500,000 from anonymous donors and ₦17 billion in federal government support through the Social Action Fund.
Speaking at the launch held at the State House in Abuja, the First Lady expressed optimism over the growing support for the initiative, describing it as a critical intervention to strengthen food systems for vulnerable households, particularly children under the age of 16.
She highlighted child malnutrition as a pressing national concern, warning that millions of Nigerian children still lack consistent access to nutritious food necessary for healthy growth and development. According to her, failure to address the crisis poses long-term risks to the nation’s future.
“The Community Food Bank Programme is a sustainable response to ensuring that nutritious food reaches vulnerable populations. It is designed to strengthen community-based nutrition systems and restore food equity,” she said.
The initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritises food security and the well-being of Nigerians.
The programme is a collaborative effort involving 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. It aims to establish a transparent and efficient food bank system supported by a structured trust fund capable of reaching communities nationwide.
Commending stakeholders for their support, the First Lady noted that members of the Board of Trustees were carefully selected based on their experience, integrity, and commitment to public service, expressing confidence in their ability to ensure transparency and accountability in managing the fund.
She also called on individuals, organisations, and development partners to support the initiative as it expands across the six geopolitical zones.
In his remarks, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, described the initiative as timely and aligned with ongoing health sector reforms under the current administration.
He noted that the programme complements the government’s broader health sector renewal and investment strategy, aimed at improving access to primary healthcare and enhancing overall population health outcomes.
Pate disclosed that additional funding had been secured, including a $500,000 donation from anonymous supporters and ₦17 billion from the Federal Government through the Social Action Fund.
The event also attracted significant contributions from major organisations, with the Dangote Foundation pledging ₦20 billion, NNPC Limited committing ₦10 billion, and the Emeka Foundation donating ₦500 million, to be disbursed over five years.
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The National Community Food Bank Programme is expected to commence rollout across the six geopolitical zones between April and June 2026, with full implementation across all 774 local government areas scheduled for July to December 2026.
The initiative is widely seen as a major step toward reducing malnutrition and improving food access among Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.
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