THE National Community Food Bank Programme received pledges totalling over N66bn on Thursday at its launch and Board of Trustees inauguration at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
News Point Nigeria reports that the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, made the announcement during his keynote address at the event hosted by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
The Aliko Dangote Foundation led private sector contributions with a N20bn in-kind commitment over five years, followed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s pledge of N10bn over the same period.
The Emeka Offor Foundation pledged N500m upfront, while anonymous friends of the First Lady contributed $500,000 (approximately N750m at current exchange rates).
Pate announced that President Bola Tinubu has approved a special intervention of N17bn through the Social Action Fund to support the programme.
“His Excellency, Mr President, has already approved the special intervention of N17bn through the Social Action Fund that will procure, using the community-based procurement platform in each of the wards of our country, with a simplified procurement mechanism to buy locally,” Pate stated.
The minister also revealed that if all 36 state governors contribute the proposed N500m each, an additional N18bn would be added to the fund, bringing the total potential to over N66bn.
“We’ve pleaded with their excellencies, the executive governors of our 36 states, if they can also match what the Federal Government will do, because the spending will be local, will be in wards and local governments.
“If every state contributes just 500 million naira, that will right there and then match what the Federal Government is putting on the table,” he said.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, pledged to confer with fellow governors on the counterpart funding.
“The NGF stands ready to work closely with the Federal Government. I’ll confer with my colleagues… we’ll present a counterpart fund that will closely align with what the Federal Government is donating,” AbdulRazaq stated.
Meanwhile, Managing Director and CEO of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, Zouera Youssoufou, announced the N20bn commitment, calling on the entire organised private sector to actively support the programme.
“Aliko Dangote Foundation will commit N20bn in-kind support over the next five years for the provision of fortified and nutritious food products,” Youssoufou said, tying the initiative to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Sofia Mbakwe, representing NNPC Limited’s Group Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, pledged N10bn over five years.
“This ceremony stands as a powerful testament to purposeful leadership by Her Excellency Senator Oluremi Tinubu. NNPC Limited is committing a starting sum of N10bn to be disbursed over the five-year period,” Mbakwe stated.
Chidioke James, representing the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, announced the N500m immediate contribution.
“Today is not just about launching a fund. It is about launching hope. No society can truly prosper while hunger persists. We are very proud to stand with the mother of the nation, the First Lady,” James said.
Pate emphasised that the programme comes at a critical moment in Nigeria’s national journey under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Central to this vision is a simple but powerful truth: health does not begin in hospitals alone. It begins in our homes, in our communities, and it starts with adequate nutrition.
“It is not only a political necessity, but a moral imperative that we ensure that no Nigerian child goes to bed hungry,” the minister stated.
He noted that malnutrition remains one of the most serious public health challenges facing Nigeria, contributing significantly to under-five mortality and limiting growth.
The National Community Food Bank Programme is designed to establish community-based food banks in every Local Government Area, linked to Basic Health Care Provision Fund-supported Primary Health Care centres, in partnership with the Bank of Agriculture.
The programme will provide nutritious, locally sourced foods using a voucher system to malnourished children under six years, pregnant and lactating women, orphans and vulnerable children, and households at the highest nutritional and economic risk.
Pate affirmed that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare will support implementation directly through the ministry and the Primary Health Care Development Agency, leveraging Nigeria’s extensive network of primary health care facilities.
The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, represented by Hamisu Mohammed, offered grassroots endorsement and full partnership, describing the initiative as “a signature legacy project.”
“This initiative comes at a critical time of food insecurity and rising cost of living. Local government fully appreciates grassroots-driven solutions,” Mohammed stated.
The event was attended by members of the National Assembly, ministers, traditional rulers, including representatives of the Sultan of Sokoto and the Ooni of Ife, development partners, and civil society organisations.
The National Health Fellows also presented a memento to the President through the First Lady.
The Community Food Bank Trust Fund will serve as the capital engine behind the programme, with the Bank of Agriculture serving as the managing institution.