Nigeria's Food Bank Programme Secures N65bn in Donations

The National Community Food Bank Programme has successfully garnered N65 billion in donations, as announced by Professor Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, during the inauguration of the Board of Trustees at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Significant contributions include N20 billion from the Aliko Dangote Foundation, pledged over five years, and N10 billion from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

The Emeka Offor Foundation pledged N500 million, while an anonymous donor and the First Lady contributed N500,000. President Bola Tinubu approved a special intervention fund of N17 billion to support the program, which addresses malnutrition, a serious public health challenge in Nigeria.

The initiative aims to improve the health and social protection of Nigerians, particularly children, as recent surveys indicate that four out of ten Nigerian children under five are stunted. The program seeks to mobilize private sector support to combat hunger effectively.