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The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has launched the National Community Food Bank Programme as a structured national response to hunger and malnutrition, targeting 500,000 vulnerable households across the country in its first year.
The initiative, positioned as a coordinated and system-driven intervention, is designed to address persistent food insecurity, particularly among children under the age of six, while strengthening community-based nutrition systems nationwide. Speaking at the launch, the First Lady described the programme as a deliberate shift from temporary relief measures to a more sustainable and institutionalised approach.
“The Community Food Bank Program was conceived by us as sustainable response to bringing healthy and nutritious food within the reach of vulnerable children under 6 years, strengthening community-based nutrition systems, and restore hope where it is most needed,” she said.
She added that the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly in advancing food security and improving child welfare outcomes across Nigeria.
“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 stated.
Beyond its core objective of food distribution, the programme is structured to operate through multi-sectoral collaboration involving key government institutions and development partners. The First Lady noted that the programme is being implemented in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and the Bank of Industry, among others.
“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,” she said, emphasising the importance of institutional synergy.
Drawing from global models, she explained that food banks have proven effective in bridging the gap between surplus food production and vulnerable populations through strategic partnerships.
“Globally, food banks are proven to be effective mechanisms for ensuring that nutritious food reaches those who need it most through strategic partnerships with farmers, food producers, corporate organizations, civil society groups, and community institutions. Food banks create a bridge between abundance and need,” she added.
A major highlight of the launch was the significant financial commitments made by both public and private sector stakeholders to support the programme. Senator Tinubu personally donated N500 million to the fund, while acknowledging other major contributors.
Among them are the Aliko Dangote Foundation, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, which pledged N10 billion over five years, and the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, which contributed N500 million. Additional funding includes N17 billion from the Federal Government through a special intervention in the Social Action Fund, as well as a matching N17 billion commitment from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF). An initial $500,000, equivalent to about N692.5 million, was also pledged by anonymous donors described as “friends of Her Excellency.”
“I am delighted and honored to be part of the inauguration of the Board of Trustees and Fundraising Ceremony for the Community Food Bank Trust Fund,” the First Lady said. “I am inspired by the demonstration of generosity and support shown today towards strengthening food support systems for vulnerable households across our country.”
She further outlined the governance structure of the initiative, stressing transparency, accountability, and efficiency as key pillars of the trust fund that will drive the programme.
“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 said.
According to her, the Board of Trustees comprises individuals with proven track records in public service, tasked with ensuring proper oversight and judicious use of funds.
“Their collective leadership will ensure that every Naira donated is used judiciously,” she added.
Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, reaffirmed the commitment of state governments to the initiative by pledging a counterpart fund to match the Federal Government’s N17 billion contribution.
“Across our states, we see the pressure many households face in accessing affordable and nutritious food,” he said. “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, it’s a national issue.”
He noted that the NGF stands ready to collaborate closely with the Federal Government to ensure effective implementation at the state level.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Mohammed Ali Pate, underscored the central role of nutrition in national development, describing it as both a public health priority and a moral responsibility.
“Central to this mission is a simple but powerful truth: Health does not begin in hospitals alone. It begins in our homes, in our communities, and it starts with adequate nutrition,” he said.
“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.”
He highlighted the broader implications of malnutrition, linking it to under-five mortality, impaired growth, and long-term developmental challenges.
“Our nutrition remains one of the most serious public health challenges that we face, contributing significantly to under-five mortality, limiting growth,” he said. “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.”
Professor Pate also confirmed that the Federal Government has approved a N17 billion intervention through the Social Action Fund to support the programme.
“That will allow us to decentralize the social action to communities, proper governance using public resources as a complement to what the private sector and the financing is doing,” he explained.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, described the programme as a transition from reactive responses to a more structured and coordinated system.
He noted that the initiative addresses both food availability and distribution inefficiencies, particularly in light of post-harvest losses and widespread undernutrition.
“About 12 million Nigerian children under five are stunted and nearly half face chronic undernourishment, while malnutrition contributes to nearly half of under-five deaths,” he said.
“The Trust Fund provides a disciplined mechanism to aggregate resources, ensure sustainability, and move locally produced food through structured supply systems to households.”
At the grassroots level, local governments are expected to play a critical role in implementation. Representing the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Hamisu Mohammed emphasised the importance of community-driven solutions.
“Local government is the custodian of the community and the masses,” he said. “This initiative comes at a critical time for food security and rising cost of living.”
Operational details of the programme were provided by Ayodeji Sotinrin, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Agriculture, where the fund is domiciled. He explained that strict financial controls have been built into the system to ensure transparency and accountability.
“No single person can authorize a disbursement. A minimum of three to five authorized trustees must co-sign every approval,” he said.
According to him, contributions will be pooled into a dedicated, ring-fenced account, with procurement handled through the bank’s nationwide network of branches. Distribution, he added, will be carried out through the NPHCDA’s primary healthcare network, ensuring last-mile delivery to beneficiaries at the ward level 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 stated.
Sotinrin also introduced the Board of Trustees, naming the First Lady as Chairman and himself as Secretary, alongside other key members including Professor Mohammed Ali Pate and other senior officials.
The National Community Food Bank Programme is expected to be rolled out across the six geopolitical zones of the country, with a focus on reaching vulnerable populations through a decentralised yet coordinated framework that integrates public sector resources, private sector funding, and community-level implementation systems.
