Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has unveiled the National Community Food Bank Programme in the North-East.
Mrs Tinubu unveiled the programme on Monday during her visit to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.
Speaking during the unveiling, the First Lady said the initiative is aimed at tackling hunger and malnutrition in the region and the country at large.
She said, “Your Excellencies and guests, it is a great honour and privilege to be here. This will be the first assignment while we are here in Borno State for our children and mothers.
“I have the honour to commission the National Community Food Bank Programme in the North-East to the glory of God.”
On April 3, PUNCH Online reported that the National Community Food Bank Programme received pledges totalling over N66bn at its launch and inauguration of the Board of Trustees at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, made the announcement during his keynote address at the event hosted by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
The Aliko Dangote Foundation led private sector contributions with a N20bn in-kind commitment over five years, followed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s pledge of N10bn over the same period.
The Emeka Offor Foundation pledged N500m upfront, while anonymous friends of the First Lady contributed $500,000 (approximately N750m at current exchange rates).
Pate announced that President Bola Tinubu approved a special intervention of N17bn through the Social Action Fund to support the programme.
The National Community Food Bank Programme is designed to establish community-based food banks in every local government area, linked to Basic Health Care Provision Fund-supported primary healthcare centres in partnership with the Bank of Agriculture.
The programme will provide nutritious, locally sourced food using a voucher system to malnourished children under six years, pregnant and lactating women, orphans and vulnerable children, and households at the highest nutritional and economic risk.
