The organized private sector has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing food insecurity and malnutrition, pledging over $30 billion and ₦500 million to the National Food Bank Programme.
It was reported that the Food Bank Programme is an initiative of the Office of the Wife of the President.
The official inauguration of the programme’s Trust Fund on Thursday in Abuja brought together business leaders, government officials, and stakeholders across sectors.
Speaking at the event, Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, lauded the Wife of the President, Oluremi Tinubu, for her leadership and vision, noting that the initiative directly addresses the urgent needs of vulnerable households, especially women and children.
Dangote also noted that private sector engagement is crucial to national development, adding that partnerships between government and private entities are key to ensuring long-term impact.
He highlighted the role of Dangote Group in previous national initiatives, including the CEO Corps for Nutrition and COVID-19 response efforts, as examples of effective collaboration.
He thereafter pledged ₦20 billion in support over the next five years to the programme.
Similarly, Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, announced that the company would contribute a ₦10 million expansion fund over five years to support the programme’s objectives.
Ojulari said NNPC Limited would also leverage strategic partners to enhance collaboration, improve product design, and strengthen business initiatives.
He noted that the initiative aligns with the company’s social mandate to support livelihoods, create jobs, and promote social stability beyond the energy sector.
In the same vein, Emeka Offor, Founding Chairman of the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, donated ₦500 million to the National Community Investment Programme.
He said the programme reflects a commitment to the welfare of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens while fostering collaboration between government and the private sector.
It was reported that the community food bank programme, a core component of the initiative, is designed to address urgent challenges of food insecurity, strengthen agricultural value chains, and ensure transparency and sustainability through robust governance and financial frameworks modelled on the Bank of Agriculture.
The organizers say the programme is intended to deliver measurable improvements in nutrition, empower smallholder farmers, and enhance household resilience.
Private sector partners reaffirmed their readiness to work alongside government and other stakeholders to ensure the initiative’s success, emphasizing that collective action is key to building a Nigeria where no child goes to bed hungry.
