Remi Tinubu Flags Off National Food Bank To Tackle Child Malnutrition

The First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, on Tuesday, flagged off the National Community Food Bank Programme as part of efforts to combat child malnutrition and strengthen nutrition support for vulnerable families across the country.

Mrs Tinubu launched the initiative at the National Traditional and Religious Leaders Summit on Health 2026 held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja, describing child malnutrition as a critical challenge that required collective national action.

She said the programme, which will be rolled out nationwide in April 2026, was designed to improve access to safe and nutritious food for vulnerable children, particularly those under the age of six.

According to the First Lady, the initiative will operate through the nationwide network of Primary Health Centres, where eligible families will be identified and registered.

Caregivers, she explained, will receive counselling and food vouchers redeemable for locally grown nutritious foods at designated food banks established close to the health centres.

“This programme is designed to strengthen community nutrition support, improve access to safe and nutritious food for vulnerable children, and contribute meaningfully to the national response to ending child malnutrition,” she said.

Mrs Tinubu disclosed that the Office of the First Lady was working in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to implement the scheme.

She added that the programme was also being executed in collaboration with the Bank of Industry and the Bank of Agriculture, alongside other partners, to ensure sustainability and broad-based support.

To guarantee transparency and accountability, the First Lady announced that the initiative would be funded through a Trust Fund supported by private sector partners and well-meaning Nigerians, and overseen by credible Nigerians.

She called on traditional and religious leaders to play a pivotal role in raising awareness and sensitising households to ensure that no eligible family is excluded from the programme.

“We will be needing a lot of support from you, our revered traditional and religious leaders, to raise awareness and sensitise households to ensure no eligible family is left behind as we roll out the programme nationwide,” she said.

Mrs Tinubu also officially flagged off the Advocacy and Awareness Campaign for the National Community Food Bank Programme and congratulated health volunteers and National Health Fellows participating in the initiative.

She commended the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, for organising the health summit and for ongoing efforts to improve healthcare delivery across the country.

The First Lady reaffirmed that health remains central to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, stressing that building healthier and stronger generations of Nigerian children is essential to national development.

“Together, we will build healthier and stronger generations of Nigerian children,” she added.

Remi Tinubu Flags Off National Food Bank To Tackle Child Malnutrition

By Jonathan Nda-Isaiah

The First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, on Tuesday, flagged off the National Community Food Bank Programme as part of efforts to combat child malnutrition and strengthen nutrition support for vulnerable families across the country.

Mrs Tinubu launched the initiative at the National Traditional and Religious Leaders Summit on Health 2026 held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja, describing child malnutrition as a critical challenge that required collective national action.

She said the programme, which will be rolled out nationwide in April 2026, was designed to improve access to safe and nutritious food for vulnerable children, particularly those under the age of six.

According to the First Lady, the initiative will operate through the nationwide network of Primary Health Centres, where eligible families will be identified and registered.

Caregivers, she explained, will receive counselling and food vouchers redeemable for locally grown nutritious foods at designated food banks established close to the health centres.

“This programme is designed to strengthen community nutrition support, improve access to safe and nutritious food for vulnerable children, and contribute meaningfully to the national response to ending child malnutrition,” she said.

Mrs Tinubu disclosed that the Office of the First Lady was working in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to implement the scheme.

She added that the programme was also being executed in collaboration with the Bank of Industry and the Bank of Agriculture, alongside other partners, to ensure sustainability and broad-based support.

To guarantee transparency and accountability, the First Lady announced that the initiative would be funded through a Trust Fund supported by private sector partners and well-meaning Nigerians, and overseen by credible Nigerians.

She called on traditional and religious leaders to play a pivotal role in raising awareness and sensitising households to ensure that no eligible family is excluded from the programme.

“We will be needing a lot of support from you, our revered traditional and religious leaders, to raise awareness and sensitise households to ensure no eligible family is left behind as we roll out the programme nationwide,” she said.

Mrs Tinubu also officially flagged off the Advocacy and Awareness Campaign for the National Community Food Bank Programme and congratulated health volunteers and National Health Fellows participating in the initiative.

She commended the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, for organising the health summit and for ongoing efforts to improve healthcare delivery across the country.

The First Lady reaffirmed that health remains central to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, stressing that building healthier and stronger generations of Nigerian children is essential to national development.

“Together, we will build healthier and stronger generations of Nigerian children,” she added.