…Urges governors’ wives to tackle child malnutrition

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Wednesday declared that no Nigerian child should be allowed to go hungry, unveiling fresh measures under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) to expand National Food Banks, strengthen nutrition support and deepen community-based interventions for vulnerable families across the country.

Speaking at the second-quarter meeting with wives of state governors at the State House, Abuja, the First Lady said the initiative was designed to combat child malnutrition from the grassroots while providing sustained support for pregnant women and nursing mothers.

She revealed that following the inauguration of the National Food Bank Programme in Abuja on February 17, 2026, and the subsequent rollout in the North-East geopolitical zone on April 27, the initiative would be extended to other zones, including the South-West, as part of efforts to achieve nationwide coverage.

Senator Tinubu charged governors’ wives to take ownership of the programme by identifying and supporting vulnerable children in their respective states.

“Our children are not supposed to be going hungry,” she said.
“No matter what, when you see a child that is malnourished in your state, you have to take them and make sure that they are properly cared for.”

The First Lady explained that the food banks are strategically located close to Primary Healthcare Centres to enable families access nutritional supplements alongside essential healthcare services.

“These food banks are built next to the primary healthcare centres so that those who need supplements can receive them, while lactating mothers and pregnant women will also be provided with food items from the food bank,” she said.

She disclosed that the project is being strengthened through partnerships with the Bank of Agriculture, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Dangote Foundation and the National Population Commission, among other stakeholders, to ensure sustainability and wider reach.

“What we have done so far is to come up with a strategy that, for me, is a very good example. It is now left for the First Ladies to take it upon themselves and ensure that their states establish more food banks because our children are not supposed to be going hungry,” she added.

Senator Tinubu noted that the food bank initiative forms part of RHI’s broader social investment agenda, which includes scholarships, education support, economic empowerment programmes and environmental campaigns aimed at creating lasting benefits for Nigerians.

“What we are doing in this administration is to make sure that even generations unborn will benefit,” she said.

The First Lady also appealed for greater public and private sector support for the National Food Bank Drive, which is domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, stressing that the fight against child hunger must remain a national priority.

She affirmed that other RHI programmes, including the Green Nigeria Challenge, scholarship schemes and storybook distribution initiative, remain on course.

Speaking with State House Correspondents after the meeting, Senator Tinubu described her role and those of the governors’ wives as complementary and supportive.

“I’m the housewife here and I’m only playing complementary and supportive roles. That is what all these women here, the governors’ wives, have been doing,” she said.

According to her, the Renewed Hope Initiative was established to enable states multiply available resources and translate them into tangible benefits for citizens.

“As mothers in the nation, all I do is coordinate them. That’s why we brought RHI on board, so that whatever trickles down to every state can be multiplied for the benefit of the people,” she said.

The First Lady acknowledged that some of the reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, including the removal of fuel subsidy, had been challenging but maintained that they were necessary to secure a better future for the country.

She urged Nigerians, particularly young people, to embrace changing economic realities and explore entrepreneurship rather than relying solely on government employment.

“We have to inform the youth that the way of doing business is different now,” she said, noting that many opportunities are increasingly available through ministries, departments and agencies on digital application platforms.

Highlighting achievements in agriculture and social investment, Senator Tinubu encouraged Nigerians to embrace local food production and take pride in indigenous culture.

“We’ve really covered a lot of areas in agriculture. Because of food security, I even have a garden that produces okra, which I also give away. Every time I harvest, I make sure my staff benefit from it,” she said.

“We have a very proud culture, and I think this is the time we started promoting ourselves and this nation. We have what it takes to do that.”

She added that in its three years of existence, the Renewed Hope Initiative has reached tens of thousands of beneficiaries across the country through grants, empowerment programmes and various social intervention schemes aimed at improving the welfare of women, children and vulnerable groups.