Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has officially launched the South-West Zonal National Community Food Bank in Ogun State, describing the initiative as a strategic intervention aimed at combating food insecurity and malnutrition among vulnerable Nigerians.
The launch, held at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Kuto, Abeokuta, brought together government officials, development partners and stakeholders in the food and health sectors. Senator Tinubu said the programme was designed to ensure that children, pregnant women and nursing mothers have consistent access to nutritious food needed for healthy growth and development.
According to her, the National Community Food Bank Programme is a long-term solution intended to support vulnerable households while complementing ongoing efforts to improve public health and social welfare across the country.
The First Lady called on governors in the South-West and across Nigeria to establish similar food banks in partnership with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA). She explained that such collaboration would ensure the continuous supply of food items and provide the institutional support required to sustain the programme.
Senator Tinubu noted that the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, particularly its focus on food security, healthcare delivery, poverty reduction and human capital development.
She expressed optimism that the programme would contribute significantly to reducing malnutrition rates among children and improving maternal health outcomes.
Commending Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun for supporting the initiative, the First Lady highlighted several developmental projects in the state, including the newly commissioned Gateway Medical Centre of Excellence and the President Muhammadu Buhari Estate, as examples of investments that directly improve citizens’ quality of life.
Governor Abiodun, in his remarks, described the programme as evidence of effective collaboration between the Federal Government and state governments in addressing the needs of vulnerable populations.
Also speaking, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said the initiative would not only provide food support but also strengthen links between farmers and consumers, thereby contributing to agricultural growth and food distribution efficiency.
The First Lady’s visit also featured the commissioning of the National Community Food Bank in Makun, Sagamu, alongside other key projects in Ogun State.
