Oluremi Tinubu introduces food bank to combat North-East malnutrition

Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has launched the North-East phase of the national community food bank programme as part of efforts to address rising cases of child malnutrition across the country.

She unveiled the initiative on Monday in Maiduguri, describing child malnutrition as a pressing national issue that requires urgent and coordinated intervention.

According to her, millions of Nigerian children still lack access to adequate nutrition, making it necessary to expand targeted programmes that can deliver food support to vulnerable households.

The First Lady said the community food bank model has proven effective globally, as it connects surplus food from farmers, producers and organisations to people in need.

She added that the success of the initiative would depend on strong collaboration between government agencies, private sector partners and local communities.

“This programme will only succeed if we build a transparent and accountable system that ensures food reaches those who need it most,” she said.

The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and the Bank of Agriculture.

Mrs Tinubu noted that the programme aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly in advancing food security, healthcare and overall national development.

She explained that the choice of the North-East for the rollout was strategic, given the region’s long-standing security challenges, which have contributed to food shortages and malnutrition.

The programme is expected to support about 500,000 households nationwide, with a focus on pregnant women, children under six, and other vulnerable groups.

She also commended Babagana Zulum for ongoing efforts to empower women in the state, noting that many of them would benefit from the initiative.

The food bank programme will be extended to other geopolitical zones in the coming months, as the government seeks broader participation from stakeholders across the country.

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