Major stakeholders in Nigeria’s private sector and subnational governments have pledged over N30.5 billion in support of a national community food bank programme championed by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, as part of efforts to combat hunger and food insecurity across the country.
The commitments were announced on Thursday during the official launch of the initiative and inauguration of its board of trustees, where total pledges exceeded N65 billion, reflecting growing national concern over rising food insecurity.
Leading the contributions was the Aliko Dangote Foundation, which committed N20 billion in-kind support to be delivered over five years. The foundation’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Zouera Youssoufou, said the intervention would prioritise the provision of fortified and nutritious food for vulnerable households, particularly children under six.
She described the initiative as a critical response to the growing nutrition crisis and urged other private sector players to lend their support, noting that the programme’s success would be measured by its impact on reducing hunger among children.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) also pledged N10 billion to be disbursed over a five-year period. The announcement was made by Sofia Mbakwe, who represented the company’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari.
Mbakwe commended the initiative as a demonstration of purposeful leadership and highlighted its structured implementation in collaboration with the Bank of Agriculture, expressing confidence in its potential for lasting impact.
In addition, the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, represented by Chijioke James, announced an immediate donation of N500 million, describing the programme as a beacon of hope in addressing hunger nationwide.
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At the grassroots level, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), represented by Hamisu Mohammed, pledged institutional support to facilitate implementation in rural and underserved communities, although no financial commitment was disclosed.
Meanwhile, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, acknowledged the severity of food insecurity across the country and signalled that state governments would provide significant financial backing.
He noted that many households are struggling to access affordable and nutritious food, adding that the high rate of child stunting in Nigeria reflects a deeper, long-term development challenge. According to him, the governors plan to align with federal efforts, including an earlier N17 billion commitment by the Ministry of Health, to ensure coordinated intervention.
The initiative is expected to leverage partnerships across public and private sectors to deliver food assistance, improve nutrition, and strengthen community-based support systems nationwide.
Analysts say the scale of commitments reflects increasing recognition of food insecurity as both a humanitarian and economic issue, with long-term implications for national development.