Nigeria has launched a nationwide initiative to combat child malnutrition and food insecurity, drawing over N65 billion in pledges from government institutions, private sector players, and philanthropic organisations.
The programme, unveiled by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, is known as the National Community Food Bank Programme and is designed as a long-term intervention to improve access to nutritious food for vulnerable households, particularly children under the age of six.
Leading the corporate contributions is Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, through the Aliko Dangote Foundation. The foundation pledged N20 billion, equivalent to about $14.2 million, in in-kind support over the next five years. The support will be delivered in the form of fortified food products aimed at addressing nutritional deficiencies among children.
Other major contributions came from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, which committed N10 billion over five years, and the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, which made an immediate donation of N500 million. Additional support included a $500,000 contribution from private donors aligned with the First Lady’s initiative.
On the government side, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, announced a N17 billion intervention approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the Social Action Fund. The Nigeria Governors’ Forum also pledged to match this amount with a counterpart contribution from state governments, while Oluremi Tinubu personally donated N500 million.
In total, the commitments recorded at the launch exceeded N65 billion, signaling a coordinated national response to a growing nutrition crisis.
The programme is expected to reach 500,000 households in its first year. Implementation will begin across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones between April and June 2026, with a nationwide rollout covering all 774 local government areas scheduled between July and December.
To ensure transparency and accountability, the fund will be managed through the Bank of Agriculture under the supervision of a newly inaugurated Board of Trustees. Disbursement of funds will require multiple authorisations, and independent auditors have been appointed to oversee financial activities. A digital tracking system will allow donors to monitor how contributions are used in real time.
Unlike traditional welfare programmes, the initiative will not distribute cash directly to beneficiaries. Instead, it will focus on delivering food packages to households, a design intended to reduce the risk of diversion and ensure that support reaches those in need.
Beneficiaries will be identified using community-level data from the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, with additional verification and monitoring by local representatives.
The launch comes amid growing concern over child malnutrition in Nigeria. Government officials estimate that around 12 million children under the age of five are stunted, highlighting the scale of the crisis and its long-term implications for health and economic development.
Speaking at the event, officials emphasized that improved nutrition is critical not only for public health but also for national development, as poor childhood nutrition can have lasting effects on productivity and human capital.
The First Lady described the programme as a key component of the administration’s broader social agenda, aimed at delivering sustainable support rather than short-term relief. She called on Nigerians across all income levels to contribute, stressing that collective action is essential to addressing the country’s food security challenges.
Analysts say the initiative, if effectively implemented, could significantly reduce malnutrition rates, strengthen community-based support systems, and improve outcomes for millions of vulnerable children across the country.
