Major stakeholders across Nigeria’s public and private sectors have pledged over N65 billion in support of the National Community Food Bank Programme, an initiative spearheaded by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu to combat hunger and malnutrition nationwide.

At the official launch of the programme and inauguration of its Board of Trustees in Abuja, leading contributions came from the Aliko Dangote Foundation and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, which jointly pledged N30.5 billion.

The Dangote Foundation, represented by its Managing Director, announced a N20 billion in-kind commitment to be delivered over five years, focusing on the provision of fortified and nutritious food to vulnerable households—particularly children under the age of six.

Similarly, NNPC Limited pledged N10 billion over the same period, describing the initiative as a strategic intervention to address food insecurity and improve national nutrition outcomes.

Additional support came from the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, which donated N500 million, alongside contributions from private individuals and development partners.

The Federal Government also committed N17 billion through a special intervention fund, while state governments are expected to provide counterpart funding that could significantly increase the total pool.

In total, commitments announced at the event exceeded N65 billion, reflecting a broad coalition of government institutions, corporate organizations, and philanthropic bodies aligned behind the initiative.

Speaking at the launch, the First Lady described child malnutrition as a critical national emergency, noting that millions of Nigerian children lack access to adequate nutrition.

She emphasized that the programme is designed as a sustainable, community-based solution to deliver healthy food to vulnerable populations and strengthen local nutrition systems.

The National Community Food Bank Programme aims to establish food banks across all local government areas, working in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and the Bank of Agriculture.

The initiative will target malnourished children, pregnant and nursing mothers, and low-income households using a structured distribution system.

Officials say the success of the programme will be measured by its ability to reduce hunger, improve child health outcomes, and ensure that no Nigerian child goes to bed hungry.