N65bn Realised as First Lady Launches National Community Food Bank Programme

• Donors include FG, NNPC, NGF, Aliko Dangote, Emeka Offor 

•Mrs Tinubu describes child malnutrition as a national emergency 

•Programme targets vulnerable under-6 children, through transparent distribution system

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Over N65 billion was realised Thursday as wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu flagged-off the National Community Food Bank Programme aimed at tackling hunger and malnutrition nationwide.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Board of Trustees and fundraising ceremony of the Community Food Bank Trust Fund in Abuja, the First Lady stressed that child malnutrition remains a pressing national priority, adding that millions of Nigerian children still lack access to adequate nutrition.

According to her: “Child malnutrition in Nigeria remains a pressing national priority, with millions of children in need of consistent access to the nourishment required for healthy growth and development.

Each day of our inaction affects their health, growth, potentials and future. Therefore, addressing this issue is both urgent and essential to securing our nation’s future”.

Mrs. Tinubu, who personally pledged N500 million, described the initiative as a sustainable intervention which aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

“The Community Food Bank Programme was conceived by us as sustainable response to bringing healthy and nutritious food within the reach of vulnerable children under six, strengthening community-based nutrition systems, and restoring hope where it is most needed”.

She added the programme, implemented in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, and the Bank of Agriculture, would serve as a bridge between food surplus and communities in need.

“Our goal is to build a strong and effective food bank system in Nigeria that is supported through a well-structured trust fund, governed transparently, and capable of reaching communities and households across the country,” she stated.

The First Lady commended early donors and called for broader participation, noting that even small contributions would make a difference.

“As a mother, even one Naira is not too small, it all adds up. A little drop of water and a grain of sand make the mighty ocean.

“This programme directly addresses food insecurity among vulnerable households, particularly children under six… Success means a Nigeria where no child goes to bed hungry,” she said.

Pledges came from both the public and private sectors, including N20 billion from Aliko Dangote Foundation; N17 billion from the federal government, and a N17 billion commitment from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF.

Other contributions include N500 million each from Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, as well as an initial $500,000 donation from anonymous supporters.

Managing Director of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, Zouera Youssoufou, announced a N20 billion in-kind commitment to the fund over a five-year period.

Also, NNPC Limited, represented by Sofia Mbakwe on behalf of Group CEO, Bayo Ojulari, pledged N10 billion over five years, describing the initiative as a “powerful testament of purposeful leadership.”

At the subnational level, Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, pledged that states would work to match the Federal Government’s N17 billion interventions.

“Across our states, we see the pressure many households face in accessing affordable and nutritious food… This is not only a health issue, it’s a national issue,” he explained.

Earlier, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, described nutrition as both a moral and public health imperative.

According to him: “Health does not begin in hospitals alone. It begins in our homes, in our communities, and it starts with adequate nutrition… it’s a moral imperative that we ensure that no Nigerian child goes to bed hungry”.

President Tinubu, he disclosed, had approved a N17 billion intervention through the Social Action Fund to support the initiative, adding that the programme would leverage Nigeria’s primary healthcare network for nationwide distribution.

On his part, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, noted the initiative represents a shift “from sympathy to structure,” citing alarming statistics that about 12 million Nigerian children under five are stunted.

“The question, therefore, is not only about production, but connection,” he said, stressing the need for efficient food distribution systems.

Managing Director of Bank of Agriculture, Ayodeji Sotinrin, in giving the operational details of the programme, said the fund would be managed under strict transparency protocols, including multi-signatory approvals, independent audits, and real-time reporting.

“No single person can authorize a disbursement… A minimum of three to five authorised trustees must co-sign every approval.”

He added that food distribution would be handled through the primary healthcare system to ensure that support reaches vulnerable households across all 36 states.

Ex-Minister of Finance/Coordinating Minister of the Economy, and a trustee of the Community Food Bank Programme, Dr. Mansur Mukhtar, said his involvement in the initiative was driven by a deep personal and professional commitment to tackling malnutrition.

He noted that his experiences as a member of the United Nations Scaling Up Nutrition movement, as well as his work as a development practitioner, had exposed him to the devastating impact of malnutrition on children and families across the world.

According to him, his more recent role as a traditional ruler in Kano State has brought him closer to grassroots realities, giving him a clearer understanding of how severely the crisis affects livelihoods, dignity and the future of communities.

Mukhtar said Mrs. Tinubu’s leadership had further inspired his resolve, describing it as “empathetic and courageous,” driven by “relentless energy and dedication.”

He stressed that the scale of the challenge demands urgency and collective responsibility, adding that he was honoured to serve as a trustee of what he described as a noble initiative.

The former minister pledged to serve diligently to ensure the trust fund achieves its core objectives of nourishing families, strengthening communities and restoring hope across the country.

He, however, emphasised that the success of the programme cannot rest solely on the Board of Trustees, calling for broad-based collaboration among stakeholders.