The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has launched the National Community Food Bank Programme, a nationwide initiative designed to tackle hunger and malnutrition, with an initial target of reaching 500,000 households in its first year, as over N65 billion was mobilised in pledges and commitments from corporate organisations, the Federal Government, and state governments.
The launch, which also featured the inauguration of the Board of Trustees and a fundraising ceremony for the Community Food Bank Trust Fund, brought together major donors, development partners and government institutions in what stakeholders described as a coordinated national response to food insecurity and child malnutrition.
Speaking at the event, the First Lady said the programme was conceived as a sustainable intervention to address nutrition challenges, particularly among vulnerable children.
“The Community Food Bank Program was conceived by us as a sustainable response to bringing healthy and nutritious food within the reach of vulnerable children under 6 years, strengthening community-based nutrition systems, and restoring hope where it is most needed.
“This initiative is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu CFR, to advance food security and safeguard the well-being of every Nigerian child,” she said.
She explained that the initiative is being implemented through strategic institutional partnerships.
“This program is in conjunction with my office, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, and the Bank of Industry. Globally, food banks have proven to be effective mechanisms for ensuring that nutritious food reaches those who need it most, through strategic partnerships with farmers, food producers, corporate organisations, civil society groups, and community institutions. Food banks create a bridge between abundance and need,” she said.
The First Lady, who personally donated N500 million to the Trust Fund, said the initiative would be driven by transparency, accountability, and strong governance structures.
“I am delighted and honoured to be part of the inauguration of the Board of Trustees and Fundraising Ceremony for the Community Food Bank Trust Fund. I am inspired by the demonstration of generosity and support shown today towards strengthening food support systems for vulnerable households across our country.
“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. Members of the Board of Trustees of the Community Food Bank Trust Fund are distinguished individuals with a wealth of experience, integrity, and deep commitment to public service. They will provide the strategic leadership and oversight needed to ensure that this trust fund is governed with transparency, efficiency, and accountability. Their collective leadership will ensure that every Naira donated is used judiciously. I congratulate you all, and I thank you for accepting this all-important national responsibility,” she said.
The First Lady also commended early donors and called for wider national participation.
“Also, I applaud the individuals and organisations that have already demonstrated confidence in this initiative through their generous pledges and donations. This gives us the impetus that this initiative will succeed and grow to serve communities across the country.
“I appeal to many more well-meaning Nigerians, organisations, and institutions to join this national effort as the program will be taken across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
“I commend the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, CON, and his entire team, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Industry, Mr Olasupo Eniola, for their collaboration and support in advancing this initiative.
“We are collecting commitment, hope, nourishment and dignity for many families across our nation. Personally, I will donate 500 million. And I equally invite every Nigerian to support it. If 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,” she said.
Major corporate donors also pledged significant support to the programme. Managing Director and CEO of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, Zouera Youssoufou, announced a N20 billion in-kind contribution over five years.
“It is an honour to stand here today on behalf of the organised private sector. This programme directly addresses food insecurity among vulnerable households, particularly children under six. Aliko Dangote Foundation will commit N20 billion in-kind support over the next five years on the provision of fortified and nutritious food products.
“I would like to call on the entire organised private sector to actively support this programme. Success means a Nigeria where no child goes to bed hungry,” she said.
NNPC Limited also pledged support, according to Sofia Mbakwe, who represented the Group Executive Officer, Bashir Bayo Ojulari.
“This ceremony stands as a powerful testament of purposeful leadership by Her Excellency Senator Oluremi Tinubu. NNPC Limited is committing a starting sum of N10 billion to be disbursed over the five-year period.
“NNPC will leverage our strategic partners and stands ready to work with you to ensure that this program delivers lasting and measurable impact,” she said.
The Sir Emeka Offor Foundation also pledged N500 million, with its representative, Chijioke James, stating: “Today is not just about launching a fund. It is about launching hope. No society can truly prosper while hunger persists. We are very proud to stand with the mother of the nation, the First Lady. The founder has asked that I announce the commitment of 500 million.”
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum, represented by Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, pledged to match the N17 billion federal intervention fund.
“Across our states, we see the pressure many households face in accessing affordable and nutritious food. More than one-third of the children under five are stunted. This points to chronic undernutrition with lasting consequences for fiscal growth and development. This is not only a health issue, but it’s also a national issue.
“The NGF stands ready to work closely with the federal government… I’ll confer with my colleague… We’ll present a counterpart fund that closely aligns with the Federal Government’s donation. Across our states, we are committed to ensuring that vulnerable children and households do not go to bed hungry,” he said.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, described nutrition as both a national priority and moral obligation.
“Central to this mission is a simple but powerful truth: Health does not begin in hospitals alone. It begins in our homes and communities, and it starts with adequate nutrition. And it is not only a necessity, politically, but it’s a moral imperative that we ensure that no Nigerian child goes to bed hungry.
“Our nutrition remains one of the most serious public health challenges that we face, contributing significantly to under-five mortality, limiting growth. There are many statistics that have been mentioned, but behind these statistics are real families, real people, real children, and communities whose well-being depends on our collective action.
“The National Community Food Bank Programme, therefore, presents a very practical and compassionate response to this challenge. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare will support the implementation of this initiative directly through the ministry but also through the Primary Health Care Development Agency, leveraging Nigeria’s extensive network of primary health care facilities and working very closely with all the state governments and the local governments that are here.
“In addition, I’ve been informed that His Excellency the President has already approved a special intervention of 17 billion Naira through the Social Action Fund… to buy local contribution to this effort, this community-based nutrition effort. That will allow us to decentralise the social action to communities, proper governance using public resources as a complement to what the private sector and the financing are doing.
“If every state contributes just 500 million Naira, that will rise and then match what the federal government is putting on the table. Together we can build Nigeria where no child goes to bed hungry, and every family has the opportunity to live a healthy and productive life.
“Already we have had 20 billion Naira commitment by the Aliko Dangote Foundation, 500 million Naira commitment by the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, other contributors, the NNPC with its 10 billion commitment.”
“I am pleased to also inform the assembly that the friends of Her Excellency the First Lady, who wish to remain anonymous, have asked me to announce an initial contribution of 500,000 dollars to start, but more to come ,” he said.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, described the programme as a major structural intervention.
He said the initiative represents a shift from “sympathy to structure and from concern to coordinated response,” adding that the Trust Fund “provides a disciplined mechanism to aggregate resources, ensure sustainability, and move locally produced food through structured supply systems to households.”
Representing the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Hamisu Mohammed said: “This initiative comes at a critical time for food insecurity and the rising cost of living. Local government is the custodian of the community and the masses. This initiative is a signature legacy project… Local government fully appreciates grassroots-driven solutions.”
Ayodeji Sotinrin, Managing Director/CEO of Bank of Agriculture, explained the accountability framework for the fund.
“This particular fund is built on longevity and trust, and most importantly, to solve the pressing demand for eradicating hunger in Nigeria. It is domiciled at the Bank of Agriculture, the Nigeria Apex Agricultural Development Finance Institution, and every contribution flows into a dedicated, ring-fenced account managed under the oversight of the Board of Trustees. No single person can authorise a disbursement. A minimum of three to five authorised trustees must co-sign every approval, and that is the standard we have set for ourselves.
“Contributions are received, trustees approve, and procurement packages are assembled through Bank of Agriculture networks. As some of you know, we have 110 branches across the country, giving us proximity to most of the communities, and also distribution is carried out through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency primary health care network, reaching beneficiaries at the ward level and across all 36 states.
“At every stage—procurement, distribution and reporting—there is independent verification and quarterly reports that will be published for all donors to see,” he said.
The National Community Food Bank Programme is expected to be implemented across all six geopolitical zones of the country, targeting vulnerable households and children as part of a broader national strategy to combat hunger and malnutrition.
