Tinubu launches national child food bank campaign

Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has flagged off a nationwide advocacy and awareness campaign for the National Community Food Bank Program, an initiative aimed at tackling malnutrition among infants and vulnerable children across the country.

The launch took place in Abuja during the first National Traditional and Religious Leaders Summit, where the First Lady said the program is designed to build healthier and stronger generations of Nigerian children through coordinated nutrition support at the community level.

According to her, the Office of the First Lady will work with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency to roll out the program in April 2026. She explained that the initiative will strengthen community nutrition systems, improve access to safe and nutritious food for children under six, and contribute to the national effort to end child malnutrition.

The program will operate through primary health centres nationwide, where eligible families will be identified and registered. Caregivers will receive counselling and food vouchers redeemable for nutritious, locally produced foods at community food banks located close to the centres. Funding will come through a dedicated trust fund supported by private sector partners and individuals, with oversight by credible Nigerians to ensure accountability.

The First Lady emphasized that traditional and religious leaders are critical to the program’s success, urging them to help raise awareness and mobilize communities so that no eligible family is excluded. She also congratulated newly engaged health volunteers known as National Health Fellows, encouraging them to contribute to national development while building professional skills.

The Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Muhammed Ali Pate, said the partnership reflects the government’s recognition that human resources are central to national growth. He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the summit, describing it as proof of the administration’s belief in the influence of traditional and religious institutions on public health outcomes. He added that the President continues to prioritize the health sector as a foundation for national development.

Also speaking, the Ooni of Ife, Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, said the gathering signaled a more practical approach to addressing health challenges. He called for strong follow-up actions and peer review mechanisms to sustain the summit’s outcomes.

Development partners, including representatives of the World Health Organization and the World Bank, described traditional and religious leaders as central actors in achieving universal health coverage, noting their influence and reach within communities.

Officials said the engagement is intended to build trust, improve awareness and strengthen community oversight as the food bank program expands nationwide. The First Lady is expected to take the campaign to all geo-political zones, beginning with the North-East in Borno State.