First Lady Unveils ₦65bn Food Bank to Tackle Hunger in Nigeria

Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has launched the National Community Food Bank Programme aimed at tackling hunger and malnutrition, with over ₦65 billion already raised and pledged by government and corporate donors.

The initiative, unveiled alongside the inauguration of the Food Bank Trust Fund Board of Trustees, is expected to reach at least 500,000 vulnerable households in its first year, focusing particularly on children under six.

Speaking at the launch, the First Lady described the programme as a sustainable response to Nigeria’s growing food insecurity, aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. She said the project would improve access to nutritious food, strengthen community-based nutrition systems, and restore hope among disadvantaged populations.

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Oluremi Tinubu also announced a personal donation of ₦500 million to the fund and commended major contributors, including the Aliko Dangote Foundation and NNPC Limited, which pledged ₦10 billion over five years. Additional support includes ₦17 billion each from the Federal Government and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, as well as ₦500 million from the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation and a $500,000 donation from anonymous supporters.

Chairman of the NGF and Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, said the governors would match the Federal Government’s ₦17 billion contribution, noting that food insecurity and child malnutrition remain critical national challenges.

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Mohammed Ali Pate, described nutrition as both a national and moral imperative, warning that undernutrition continues to drive child mortality and hinder development.

Similarly, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said the programme marks a shift from “sympathy to structure,” citing data that millions of Nigerian children suffer from stunting and chronic malnutrition.

The fund, domiciled at the Bank of Agriculture, will operate under strict transparency measures, with multiple trustees required to approve disbursements and quarterly reports to be published.

Officials said the programme would leverage partnerships with farmers, private sector players, and community institutions, using primary healthcare networks for nationwide distribution across all 36 states.

The initiative is set to be rolled out across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones as part of efforts to build a sustainable food support system and reduce hunger nationwide.