First Lady Calls on Governors to Create Working Community Food Banks Across All Senatorial Districts

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has urged all the 36 governors to establish functional community food banks in their respective three senatorial districts to ensure food security and address the prevalence of malnutrition in children under six years, pregnant and lactating mothers.

The First Lady was in Katsina State on Thursday presenting foodstuffs to the wife of the Katsina State governor for distribution to the vulnerable citizens under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Food Outreach Scheme. She was represented by the vice president’s wife, Hajiya Nana Shettima, who disclosed that Katsina is the 30th state to receive food items after distributing to 29 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Food Outreach Scheme, which commenced in March 2024 as part of RHI’s Social Investment Programme, provides nutritional support to persons living with disabilities, widows, and other vulnerable groups through enhanced hardship alleviation and improvement of household well-being.

The First Lady, noting that the initiative is made possible by two partners providing two truckloads of items monthly on a rotational basis, said the Renewed Hope Initiative will be able to reach two states monthly with the scheme.

She further revealed that the National Community Food Bank Programme will be rolled out nationwide to address the malnutrition index among children under five, and support pregnant and lactating mothers.

Calling on the governors to scale up the model by putting in place community food banks in their respective three senatorial districts, the First Lady stressed that the current federal and zonal efforts will not be sufficient to address the challenges of vulnerable Nigerians.

Collaboration between the federal government and various states will enhance scaling up nutritional support and ensure these vulnerable Nigerians get the necessary support.

The Katsina State governor, Mallam Dikko Umaru Radda, described the day as a day of hope and commitment to Katsina State’s citizens.

The governor acknowledged the tremendous support of the Federal Government in improving the well-being of the people of Katsina State through the initiative.

In his remarks, governor Radda said the state government aligns itself with the President on the Renewed Hope Agenda as his government continues to invest in youths, health, education, and agriculture to better position the state to achieve its desire to have all-round citizens.

Furthermore, Radda noted that his government has been collaborating with the security agencies by providing patrol vehicles to augment their efforts in ensuring lasting peace in the state.

He urged residents to vote for the ruling party in the upcoming election to ensure things will continue to move.

Hajiya Zulaihat Dikko, the wife of the Katsina State governor, thanked the First Lady and commended the tremendous strides being made in the country through the Renewed Hope Initiative, which continues to support women, persons living with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.

The Osun, Ogun, and Akwa Ibom states are next in line to receive the food items. The foodstuffs were handed over to Hajiya Zulaihat Dikko by Hajiya Nana Shettima.

Source: Thiadaylive