Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has unveiled the National Community Food Bank Programme in the North-East as part of efforts to tackle hunger and malnutrition.

The initiative was launched on Monday in Maiduguri during her visit to the state, with a focus on supporting vulnerable groups, particularly children and mothers.

Speaking at the event, Mrs Tinubu said the programme would serve as a critical intervention to address food insecurity in the region and across the country. “It is a great honour to commission the National Community Food Bank Programme in the North-East,” she said.

The project is designed to establish community-based food banks in every local government area, linked to primary healthcare centres supported by the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, in partnership with the Bank of Agriculture.

It will provide nutritious, locally sourced food through a voucher system to targeted beneficiaries, including children under six, pregnant and nursing mothers, orphans, and other vulnerable households.

The programme had earlier secured pledges exceeding N66 billion at its national launch in Abuja, according to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate.

Major contributions include a N20 billion in-kind commitment from the Aliko Dangote Foundation, N10 billion from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, and N500 million from the Emeka Offor Foundation.

Additional support came from private donors, including $500,000 contributed by associates of the First Lady, while President Bola Tinubu approved a N17 billion intervention through the Social Action Fund.

Officials say the initiative aims to strengthen food access at the grassroots level while addressing malnutrition through coordinated healthcare and agricultural support systems.