…targets vulnerable groups, child nutrition

…Aiyedatiwa vows to deliver Ondo for Tinubu in 2027

Adewale Momoh, Akure

The Renewed Hope Initiative of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday extended its community food bank programme to Ondo State, delivering truckloads of food supplies to vulnerable groups in the state as part of moves to fight against hunger and child malnutrition.

The intervention saw hundreds of beneficiaries, including persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, receive food items at the International Culture and Event Centre in Akure, the state capital.

The First Lady, who was represented at the event by Hajia Nana Shettima, wife of the Vice President, described the initiative as a component of the government’s response to rising food costs and nutritional challenges facing low-income families across the country.

According to Tinubu, the programme is sustained through the generosity of two major donors who supply two truckloads of food items monthly to the Renewed Hope Initiative, with the Abdusamad Rabiu Africa Initiative providing the consignment delivered to Ondo State, while a second donor has chosen to remain anonymous.

According to the First Lady’s representative, the initiative directly complements President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by creating pathways for Nigerians to pursue their aspirations regardless of their circumstances, while simultaneously tackling the twin challenges of food insecurity and malnutrition.

According to her, the programme prioritises children’s nutrition, recognising that adequate access to food during early development stages is fundamental to health outcomes and future productivity.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who attended the event, offered political endorsement for the president, declaring that Ondo State had already committed to supporting Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

“We have already declared Ondo State for Tinubu 2027, and we remain unwavering in our resolve to deliver en masse in the Sunshine State for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second term,” the governor stated.

Aiyedatiwa framed the food distribution as a demonstration of the federal government’s commitment to poverty alleviation, characterising it as a celebration of compassion and solidarity rather than merely a distribution exercise.

The governor emphasised that the outreach aligns with his administration’s “Our Ease” Development Agenda, particularly its focus on promoting welfare, dignity and resilience among women, children and families.

He stressed that food security remains central to human dignity and social stability, explaining that adequate nutrition enables children to learn better, reduces parental burdens and strengthens the overall workforce.

Aiyedatiwa reaffirmed the state’s commitment to federal government programmes, noting that such interventions had positively impacted communities across the Sunshine State.

The wife of the governor, Esther Aiyedatiwa, described the food outreach as an expression of compassionate leadership that extends beyond food distribution to restore dignity and reaffirm commitment to citizen welfare.

Dr Ubin Udoh, Managing Director of the Abdusamad Rabiu Africa Initiative, said his organisation was proud to partner with the Renewed Hope Initiative in supporting interventions that provide relief and build resilient communities.

He said, ASR Africa, established in 2021 as the personal philanthropic fund of Abdul Samad Rabiu, Chairman of BUA Group, commits $100 million annually to interventions in health, education and social development across the continent.

Meanwhile, the Ondo State Government has pledged continued collaboration with the Federal Government to expand support for vulnerable residents through social intervention programmes, with the governor assuring that his administration would pursue policies enhancing food availability, affordability and access across the state.