₦airaland Forum

…Private sector, states rally behind national fight against hunger
…Programme targets vulnerable households, children under six

Nigeria’s private sector leaders and state governments on Thursday pledged over N30.5 billion in support of the National Community Food Bank Programme, a flagship initiative championed by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to combat hunger and food insecurity across the country.

The pledges were announced at the official launch of the programme and inauguration of its Board of Trustees, drawing commitments from major corporate organisations, philanthropic foundations, and subnational governments.

Leading the pack, the Aliko Dangote Foundation, represented by its Managing Director and CEO, Zouera Youssoufou, on behalf of Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, committed N20 billion in-kind support over five years.

“It is an honour to stand here today on behalf of the organised private sector. This programme directly addresses food insecurity among vulnerable households, particularly children under six.

“Aliko Dangote Foundation will commit N20 billion in-kind support over the next five years on the provision of fortified and nutritious food products”, Youssoufou said.

She urged broader corporate participation, saying, “I would like to call on the entire organised private sector to actively support this programme,” adding that its success would deliver “a Nigeria where no child goes to bed hungry,” in line with “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited also pledged N10 billion over five years, with Sofia Mbakwe representing the Group Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari.

“This ceremony stands as a powerful testament of purposeful leadership by Her Excellency Senator Oluremi Tinubu,” Mbakwe said.

Highlighting the programme’s framework in partnership with the Bank of Agriculture, she added, “NNPC Limited is committing a starting sum of N10 billion to be disbursed over the five-year period.”

She assured that the company would “leverage our strategic partners and stands ready to work with you to ensure that this program delivers lasting and measurable impact.”

Also lending support, the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation pledged N500 million, announced by its representative, Chidioke James.

“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. The founder has asked that I announce the commitment of 500 million.”

At the grassroots level, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) pledged full institutional support for the programme, describing it as timely and critical.

Represented by Hamisu Mohammed, ALGON said local governments, as “custodian of the community and the masses,” view the initiative as “a signature legacy project.”

“This initiative comes at a critical time for food insecurity and rising cost of living. Local government fully appreciates grassroots-driven solutions,” he said, pledging “cooperation and partnership particularly in rural and underserved communities.”

Similarly, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, assured that state governments would provide substantial counterpart funding.

“Across our states, we see the pressure many households face in accessing affordable and nutritious food. More than one third of the children under five are stunted. This points to chronic undernutrition with lasting consequences for fiscal growth and development. This is not only a health issue, it’s a national issue,” he said.

He praised the First Lady’s “personal commitment” to tackling hunger and aligned the initiative with ongoing state-level nutrition interventions.

“The NGF stands ready to work closely with the federal government… I’ll confer with my colleague… we’ll present a counterpart fund that will closely align to what the Federal Government is donating,” he added, referencing the Federal Ministry of Health’s N17 billion pledge.

https://thenationonlineng.net/breaking-dangote-nnpc-governors-pledge-n30-5bn-for-first-ladys-food-bank-initiative/amp/

Weaponizing poverty is one of the tools of the APC led federal government. Stop terrorism and allow farming to take its course. And you achieve food security. I wonder the kind of poverty troubleshooting our people that even the food some persons can never give to their dogs are used as bait to secure some individuals' endorsement. Poverty is indeed a great weapon.
It's better that right thinking Nigerians join hands together and get rid of this bunch of leaders whose only plan is how to retain power. Tinubu second coming is better not experienced. They just want to make an average Nigerian a beggar.

The desperation to retain power by all means is real. Thought they said there was no hunger and that food has become affordable. So why this.

What they deny is public they admit in privacy and then conjure ways to exploit it.

Desperation.

Rather than liquidate the funds into the petroleum price, he rather dash it to pen useless initiative. When people talk, they start asking if it's their money.

I have nothing to say but just know this, these guys know exactly what they are doing.

Its best to use it to subsidize transport for the masses.

Rice and beans for 2027
Nigerians una sorry ooo

Vote buying no be crime afterall

It is well, this will be for the Rich only as I never see any grassroot person getting this.

Election money being moved around.

Where is the world-class hospital that NNPC promised to build across the country during COVID lockdown? Why do they run NNPC like a company without a specific direction?

It's high time Nigeria dismantle the distorted monoculture economy that Europe imposed on Africa and backed by the World Bank after world war 2 when we gave up our self sufficiency. Now we’re slowly edging back to a war time situation where self sufficiency is the only way of survival but one which Nigeria is not prepared for. Nigeria has more than enough arable land for self-sufficiency. Food security should never be an issue for Nigeria in 2026 and certainly should never be politicised!

Xmen149:
Election money being moved around.

Flesh and blood did not reveal this to you 😂

These people are the real oloriburuku in this country.

A good initiative from the First Lady!

The rich getting richer.
Even if na N1b him give common man wey get sense for streets, that sensible person can empower at least 10,000 youths.

Why is the rich giving to the rich? What about the poor? Some people havent even eaten today, first lady that has probably eaten multiple times today is getting free money from Dangote. Does that even make.any sense? Probably for political favors as usual

What happens to the struggling society?

Election mode activated. After impoverishing them then you share some cups of rice to bribe them. It's ok.

When you married to the wrong spouse you are finished.

Ya Allahu !

Please safe us in this country of ours.

Robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Thieves dey dash thief money!!

Abi rice initiative
..
We all knw rice answers all things in Nigeria

How will this food be produced? Will they build more farms or will they just import it and do nothing about our food security? Hell they may not even do anything at all. We have no idea about how this food will even be acquired, just words. Zero accountability.

Dreal1247:
Weaponizing poverty is one of the tools of the APC led federal government. Stop terrorism and allow farming to take its course. And you achieve food security. I wonder the kind of poverty troubleshooting our people that even the food some persons can never give to their dogs are used as bait to secure some individuals' endorsement. Poverty is indeed a great weapon.
It's better that right thinking Nigerians join hands together and get rid of this bunch of leaders whose only plan is how to retain power. Tinubu second coming is better not experienced. They just want to make an average Nigerian a beggar.

if you join hands together to rid Tinubu, tell us whom you are joining hands on behalf and tell us what you think he will do better and show us with what he had done better in the past that can surpass that of Tinubu.

I am sure you will not mention obi or Atiku in the list because those ones will be worse than Tinubu, they have zero conflict resolution skills and there is nothing outstanding you can point to that majority will see as being better than that of Tinubu. So, talking is cheap; we don't want trial and error governance again

More rice for the people

Crop wey MAMA plant last year never germinate?

Dangote can never be termed as a philanthropist....he's a key player in whatever we are facing negatively in Nigeria today......

That man is rising by impoverishing millions of Nigerians..

Friend to every bad government of the day

Weaponzing poverty...

Sharing incentives to APC members and calling it National food initiative

Tueeeeh

If you are into retail foodstuffs, tread carefully o.
Baba bulaba go soon start sharing free food till election period o. Make loss no go show for your biz o.

Ur husband brought Nigerians down to their knees with his unrealistic $1 trillion policies, only for private bodies to donate money for your program to feed hungry people . Shouldn't ur husband revert some of his policies to free up Nigerians small ?

sreamsense:
if you join hands together to rid Tinubu, tell us whom you are joining hands on behalf and tell us what you think he will do better and show us with what he had done better in the past that can surpass that of Tinubu.

I am sure you will not mention obi or Atiku in the list because those ones will be worse than Tinubu, they have zero conflict resolution skills and there is nothing outstanding you can point to that majority will see as being better than that of Tinubu. So, talking is cheap; we don't want trial and error governance again

This one still Dey chop. If you no experience Tinubu bad governance today you or your family go experience am later. Mark this

Majority will find it’s way into the election campaigns