Public And Private Sector Alliance Mobilizes N65 Billion For National Community Food Bank Trust Fund To Combat Child Malnutrition

A new N65 billion fund led by the First Lady and private donors aims to fight child hunger and stunting in Nigeria through direct food distribution.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 5, 2026, 4:32 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from LEADERSHIP

A Multilateral Financial Commitment To Food Security

The National Community Food Bank Trust Fund secured an initial mobilization of more than N65 billion during a high profile inauguration at the Presidential Villa. The fundraising effort saw substantial pledges from a diverse group of stakeholders, including a N20 billion in kind commitment from the Aliko Dangote Foundation and N10 billion from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. The Federal Government and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum each contributed N17 billion to the fund, while First Lady Remi Tinubu and the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation provided N500 million each. This significant capital injection represents a shift from theoretical policy toward a funded operational mandate to tackle chronic food insecurity across the federation.

Addressing The Stunted Growth Crisis Among Nigerian Children

Current data from the 2023/24 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey reveals that approximately 40 percent of children under the age of five are physically stunted due to prolonged malnutrition. This crisis of development is particularly acute in the northern regions, which also hold the world’s largest population of out of school children. According to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, hunger must be reframed as a fundamental health and national security issue rather than a mere welfare concern. By targeting the first 1,000 days of life, the programme seeks to intervene during the most critical window for cognitive and physical development to prevent lifelong productivity losses.

Governance Structure Prioritizes Transparency And Food Only Distribution

To avoid the pitfalls of previous social investment schemes, the programme has adopted a ring fenced governance model overseen by a Board of Trustees. Ayodeji Sotinrin, Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, confirmed that no single individual has the authority to disburse funds, as a minimum of three to five trustees must sign off on every transaction. Furthermore, the initiative will distribute only food packages instead of cash to minimize the risk of diversion by middlemen or political loyalists. This logistical framework will leverage the existing National Primary Health Care Development Agency network to ensure that supplies reach the intended beneficiaries at the grassroots level.