Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has launched the Community Food Bank Programme for the North-West region in Hadejia, Jigawa State. The initiative aims to tackle food insecurity and malnutrition among vulnerable households across the region.
The launch is part of efforts to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, with a focus on improving food security and healthcare outcomes for Nigerians.
Oluremi Tinubu Launches Community Food Bank in Hadejia
Speaking at the event, the First Lady described the Community Food Bank Programme as a deliberate and sustainable intervention to address hunger and poor nutrition in vulnerable communities. She noted that the programme has already recorded progress in Borno State, where 560 beneficiaries have been enrolled and 468 vulnerable children, pregnant women and lactating mothers reached within two months.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu commended Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State for his administration’s commitment to the welfare of the people. She also inaugurated several projects during her visit, including the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Road, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Road, Oluremi Tinubu Clinic and Dialysis Centre, and the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Academy in Hadejia.
The First Lady called on individuals, corporate organisations, institutions and development partners in the North-West to support the programme and ensure its success.
Governor Namadi Commits North-West to Food Security Drive
In his response, Governor Namadi welcomed the initiative and pledged the support of North-West governors to make the programme work across the region. He described it as a timely intervention that reinforces government’s responsibility to protect citizens’ welfare through better access to food.
Governor Namadi highlighted Jigawa State’s own efforts in nutrition through the home-grown MASAKI Nutrition Programme. The initiative, running in 300 communities across the state’s 30 constituencies, screened about 245,000 children in 2024 and over 382,000 children in 2025. It has increased the number of children recovering from moderate acute malnutrition from around 19,000 to more than 43,000 within the same period.
He said local government councils would work closely with state agencies and community structures to deliver the food bank programme effectively.
What the Programme Means for Vulnerable Families
The Community Food Bank Programme is designed to provide food support, nutrition protection and social care to the most vulnerable households. With successful implementation already underway in Borno, the North-West rollout is expected to expand reach to more families facing food challenges.
The First Lady’s visit and the commissioning of projects in Hadejia have been seen as a boost to Jigawa State’s development efforts. Supporters say the combination of the food bank and the new facilities will help improve both immediate welfare and long-term community resilience.
The programme continues the federal government’s push to address hunger and malnutrition, especially in northern Nigeria where such challenges remain significant.
