Nigeria’s private sector heavyweights and state governments have pledged over N30.5 billion in support of the National Community Food Bank Programme, a flagship intervention spearheaded by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu to combat hunger and food insecurity nationwide.
The commitments were unveiled on Thursday during the programme’s official launch and inauguration of its Board of Trustees, drawing participation from leading corporations, philanthropic organisations, and subnational governments.
Topping the list of donors, the Aliko Dangote Foundation announced a N20 billion in-kind contribution to be delivered over five years. Representing the foundation, Managing Director Zouera Youssoufou said the initiative directly targets vulnerable households, especially children under six, through the provision of fortified and nutritious food.
She called on other private sector players to rally behind the initiative, noting that its success would align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and help build a nation where no child goes hungry.
Similarly, NNPC Limited pledged N10 billion over five years to support the programme. Speaking on behalf of the company’s leadership, Sofia Mbakwe described the initiative as a demonstration of purposeful leadership by the First Lady and emphasized its structured implementation in collaboration with the Bank of Agriculture.
The Sir Emeka Offor Foundation also contributed N500 million, describing the intervention as a critical step toward addressing persistent hunger and inequality.
At the grassroots level, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) pledged institutional backing, highlighting the programme’s importance in reaching underserved and rural communities.
In the same vein, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, led by Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, assured that state governments would provide counterpart funding to complement federal efforts.
AbdulRazaq warned that rising food costs and widespread undernutrition—particularly among children under five—pose serious threats to national development, stressing that food security must be treated as both a health and economic priority.
The initiative also received a significant boost from the Federal Ministry of Health, which pledged N17 billion in support, further underscoring the scale of collaboration driving the programme.
Stakeholders at the event described the National Community Food Bank Programme as a timely intervention aimed at cushioning the impact of economic hardship while strengthening nutrition and food access for millions of Nigerians