From Juliana Taiwo, Abuja
Corporate giants, federal and state governments yesterday reaffirmed their commitment to addressing food insecurity and malnutrition as they doled out over N65 billion during the inaugurated of the Board of Trustees and Fundraising Ceremony for the Community Food Bank Trust Fund
The formal inauguration of the Food-bank programme, an initiative of the Office of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu brought together business leaders, government officials, and stakeholders across sectors.
Speaking at the event, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, lauded Mrs. Tinubu for her leadership and vision, noting that the initiative directly addressed the urgent needs of vulnerable households, especially women and children.
He also noted that the private sector engagement was crucial to national development, adding that partnerships between government and private entities were key to ensuring long-term impact.
He highlighted the role of Dangote Group in previous national initiatives, including the CEO Corps for Nutrition and COVID-19 response efforts, as examples of effective collaboration.
He thereafter pledged N20 billion in support over the next five years to the programme.
Similarly, Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, announced that the company would contribute a N10 million expansion fund over five years to support the programme’s objectives.
Ojulari said NNPC Limited would also leverage strategic partners to enhance collaborations, improve product design, and strengthen business initiatives.
He noted that the initiative aligned with the company’s social mandate to support livelihoods, create jobs, and promote social stability beyond the energy sector.
Sir Emeka Offor, Founding Chairman of the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, donated N500 million to the National Community Investment Programme.
He said that the programme reflected a commitment to the welfare of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens while fostering collaboration between government and the private sector.
The community food-bank programme, a core component of the initiative, is designed to address urgent challenges of food insecurity, strengthen agricultural value chains, and ensure transparency and sustainability through robust governance and financial frameworks modeled on the Bank of Agriculture.
To reinforce the critical link between food security and improved health outcomes, the Federal Government unveiled a N17 billion intervention to support the Programme aimed at tackling malnutrition and hunger nationwide.
According to Prof. Muhammed Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, the initiative came at a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s development agenda, aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritised the well-being and social protection of Nigerians.
He said addressing Nigeria’s health challenges requires a multi-sectoral approach, integrating efforts across the health, agriculture, and social protection sectors.
“Health does not begin in hospitals alone; it begins in our homes and communities, and it starts with adequate nutrition,” he said.
He described malnutrition as one of the most pressing public health challenges facing the country, noting that it contributes significantly to under-five mortality, impairs cognitive development, and limits the growth potential of children.
He said that the N17 billion federal intervention would be deployed through a community-based implementation model, enabling local procurement at the ward level to strengthen grassroots economies while improving access to nutrition.
He said that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare would support implementation through its agencies, particularly the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, by leveraging Nigeria’s extensive network of primary healthcare centres.
The minister said the initiative would be executed in collaboration with state governments, local government councils, civil society organisations, and development partners to ensure effective delivery and sustainability.
He called on state governments to contribute to complement the federal efforts, noting that such collective funding would significantly expand the programme’s reach.
He said hunger was not merely a food issue but a broader development concern requiring coordinated national action.
“The fight against hunger cannot be left to the government alone. It requires a whole-of-society approach where public institutions, private sector actors, and citizens work together,” he said.
Nigeria Governors’ Forum, represented by Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, pledged to match the N17 billion federal commitment with a counterpart fund.
The First Lady described the initiative as a deliberate and sustainable response to child malnutrition in Nigeria.
She said the programme was designed to provide consistent access to nutritious food for vulnerable children, strengthen community-based nutrition systems, and restore hope to disadvantaged households.
According to her, the food bank system will be supported by a transparent and well-structured trust fund, driven by partnerships with farmers, corporate organisations, civil society groups, and development institutions.
She said child malnutrition remained a national priority, warning that its impact on children’s health, growth, and future potential makes urgent intervention imperative.
She also announced a personal donation of N500 million to support the initiative and called on Nigerians to contribute, noting that collective efforts, no matter how small, could make a significant difference.
“Every contribution counts. A little drop of water makes a mighty ocean,” she said.
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