By Isaac Mission
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has inaugurated the National Community Food Bank Programme for the South-East as part of ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to address food insecurity and support vulnerable households.
The programme was launched on Thursday at the Old Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia, Anambra State, during the First Lady’s official visit to the state.
The South-East intervention is targeted at people considered particularly vulnerable to hunger and malnutrition, including widows, elderly citizens, persons living with disabilities, nursing mothers and young children.
Unlike a programme focused solely on food distribution, the initiative also incorporates nutrition education and other welfare interventions intended to improve the health and well-being of beneficiaries.
Speaking at the launch, Tinubu said the programme was being implemented under the Renewed Hope Initiative of the Federal Government as part of measures to ease the impact of economic difficulties on families.
She said the intervention would complement government policies aimed at reducing poverty, strengthening social protection systems and promoting sustainable agriculture.
According to her, the programme also reflects growing cooperation between the Federal Government and state governments in the South-East toward improving living conditions and promoting inclusive economic development.
The National Community Food Bank Programme is being implemented nationwide, with the South-East launch coming after similar exercises in other geopolitical zones, including the North-East and South-West.
The initiative involves the Office of the First Lady, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and the Bank of Agriculture.
Ahead of the Anambra launch, screening and verification exercises had been conducted at selected health facilities across the state to identify eligible beneficiaries.
The Maternal and Child Health Centre in Amawbia is serving Anambra Central, Aku Ezinifite Primary Health Centre covers Anambra South, while the Basic Primary Health Centre in Onitsha North caters to beneficiaries from Anambra North.
Particular attention was given to children under six, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. Health workers are expected to assess the nutritional condition of those screened before enrolling qualified beneficiaries.
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency said the exercise would assist in identifying children experiencing moderate malnutrition as well as women facing nutritional vulnerability.
The agency described the Anambra launch as the sixth zonal rollout, effectively completing the programme’s nationwide zonal launch phase. The initiative is expected to eventually reach communities across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
Other Projects Commissioned During Visit
Tinubu’s visit to Anambra also featured the commissioning of an Information and Communications Technology Centre at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko.
The centre is designed to expose students and young people to digital skills and emerging opportunities in the technology-driven economy.
Training areas are expected to include software development, data analysis, digital marketing and skills for remote employment.
The First Lady also witnessed the commencement of an empowerment initiative spearheaded by Anambra State First Lady, Mrs Nonye Soludo.
The programme is targeting 5,000 residents across the state’s 21 local government areas.
Beneficiaries are expected to receive various forms of support, including business grants, vocational equipment and tools. The intervention covers areas such as agriculture and agro-processing, beauty services and small-scale businesses.
Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, and his wife, Nonye Soludo, received the First Lady during her visit.
The activities brought together government officials, political leaders and community stakeholders, with discussions centred on food security, poverty reduction, youth development and economic empowerment.
The Anambra State Government had earlier said Tinubu’s visit would further strengthen collaboration between the state and Federal Government in addressing socio-economic challenges and improving support for vulnerable residents.
The South-East launch follows the inauguration of the South-West zonal food bank programme in Ogun State in August, where Tinubu called on state governments to take ownership of the initiative and ensure that food banks are located close to primary healthcare facilities.