By Barbara Nwaiwu
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Thursday unveiled the National Community Food Bank Programme for the South-East geopolitical zone in Anambra State as part of efforts to strengthen food security and social protection for vulnerable Nigerians.
Tinubu performed the unveiling at the Old Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, during her official visit to the state, where she was received by Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and his wife, Dr Nonye Soludo.
The South-East zonal food bank is designed to provide food assistance and nutrition education to vulnerable groups, including widows, elderly persons, persons with disabilities, nursing mothers and young children.
Speaking at the event, Tinubu said the initiative was a key component of the Renewed Hope Initiative aimed at addressing hunger, promoting grassroots development and improving human capital outcomes in communities.
“This initiative reinforces the Federal Government’s policies aimed at tackling poverty, promoting sustainable agriculture, and strengthening social safety nets in Anambra State and the wider South-East region.”
“It demonstrates a reinforced partnership between the Federal Government and the state governments of the region towards inclusive economic growth and societal welfare,” Tinubu said.
The First Lady said the initiative would complement Federal Government policies focused on poverty reduction, sustainable agriculture and strengthening social safety nets, while also promoting collaboration between the Federal and state governments.
As part of her engagements in the state, Tinubu also commissioned an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Centre at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko.
The centre is designed to equip young people with digital skills, including software development, data analysis and remote-work opportunities.
Her visit also featured the rollout of empowerment grants, vocational tools and agricultural inputs for beneficiaries across Anambra State’s 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs), in collaboration with the state government’s humanitarian efforts.
