First Lady commissions academy, food bank in Jigawa

First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu on Monday paid a one-day official visit to Jigawa State, where she commissioned the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Future Academy, the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Clinic and the National Community Food Bank Programme aimed at improving healthcare delivery and combating child malnutrition.

The Bola Ahmed Tinubu Future Academy and the modern health facility were facilitated by the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, while the National Community Food Bank was established by the Federal Government through the Office of the First Lady in partnership with development partners.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in Hadejia, Mrs. Tinubu said the National Community Food Bank Programme was introduced to tackle the persistent challenge of child malnutrition under the Renewed Hope Initiative.

She explained that although child nutrition falls under the Office of the Vice President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed her to complement existing interventions following alarming reports of widespread malnutrition across the country.

The First Lady expressed optimism that the programme would strengthen food security, improve children’s nutrition and support vulnerable communities through collaborative efforts with relevant stakeholders.

“We should not wait until children become severely malnourished before intervening. The Food Bank will provide nutritious food to pregnant women, nursing mothers and children below the age of six through Primary Healthcare Centres,” she said.

The First Lady explained that the initiative would ensure expectant mothers receive nutritional support throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding, while children under six years would also benefit from regular food supplies to prevent severe malnutrition.

She disclosed that the programme was first launched in Borno State and would now be expanded to all six geopolitical zones, with Food Banks to be established close to Primary Healthcare Centres nationwide.

Mrs. Tinubu commended governors across the Northwest for supporting the initiative, noting that their commitment would accelerate its implementation in the region.