Dangote, NNPC lead as First Lady’s food bank raises over N66bn

The National Community Food Bank Programme recorded pledges of over N66 billion on Thursday at its official launch and inauguration of the Board of Trustees held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.

The announcement was made by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, during his keynote address at the event hosted by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

Leading the private sector support was the Aliko Dangote Foundation, which committed N20 billion in-kind support over a five-year period. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited followed with a pledge of N10 billion over the same period.

Also contributing to the programme was the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, which pledged N500 million upfront, while anonymous friends of the First Lady donated $500,000, estimated at about N750 million.

Professor Pate disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had approved a special intervention of N17 billion through the Social Action Fund to support the implementation of the initiative.

According to him, the intervention will be used to procure food locally through a community-based procurement platform in wards across the country using a simplified process.

He added that the programme could receive an additional N18 billion if all 36 state governors contribute the proposed N500 million each, bringing the total support base to over N66 billion.

Pate said the funding model is designed to ensure that spending takes place at the ward and local government levels, thereby strengthening local food systems and improving access to nutrition at the grassroots.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, pledged to engage fellow governors on the issue of counterpart funding and assured that the governors would work with the Federal Government to support the initiative.

Speaking on behalf of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Zouera Youssoufou, said the organisation’s support would focus on the provision of fortified and nutritious food products over the next five years.

Similarly, NNPCL, through its representative Sofia Mbakwe, pledged N10 billion over five years, describing the programme as a significant intervention aimed at addressing hunger and improving national wellbeing.

The Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, represented by Chidioke James, said its N500 million contribution reflected its support for efforts aimed at reducing hunger and improving the lives of vulnerable Nigerians.

Pate said the National Community Food Bank Programme was introduced at a critical period in the country’s development and aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He stressed that malnutrition remains one of the most serious public health challenges facing Nigeria, contributing significantly to under-five mortality and limiting healthy growth and development among children.

According to him, the programme is designed to establish community-based food banks in every Local Government Area of the country, linked to Primary Health Care centres supported by the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, in partnership with the Bank of Agriculture.

He explained that the initiative would provide nutritious and locally sourced food through a voucher system to vulnerable groups, including malnourished children under six years, pregnant and lactating women, orphans and vulnerable children, and households facing severe nutritional and economic hardship.

Pate added that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency would support implementation directly through Nigeria’s extensive network of primary health care facilities.

The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, represented by Hamisu Mohammed, also pledged support for the programme, describing it as a timely grassroots intervention in response to rising food insecurity and the increasing cost of living.

The event was attended by members of the National Assembly, ministers, traditional rulers, development partners, and civil society organisations, including representatives of the Sultan of Sokoto and the Ooni of Ife.

The National Health Fellows also presented a memento to President Tinubu through the First Lady during the event.