Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has reiterated the collective commitment of the North-West states to advancing food security and enhancing nutritional outcomes for vulnerable households.
He stated this during the official launch of the National Community Food Bank Programme for the North-West Zone in Hadejia, performed by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu.
The launch, which marked another milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts to tackle food insecurity and malnutrition through the Renewed Hope Agenda, brought together the Governors of the Northwest States, senior Federal Government officials, development partners, traditional rulers, local government leaders and other stakeholders to advance coordinated action towards improving access to nutritious food for children under the age of six, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
Welcoming the First Lady and other distinguished guests on behalf of the people of Jigawa State and the Northwest region, Governor Namadi described the National Community Food Bank Programme as a timely intervention that reinforces government’s constitutional responsibility to safeguard the welfare of its citizens through improved access to adequate food.
He stated that the initiative complements ongoing efforts by the Jigawa State Government to combat malnutrition, strengthen social protection and improve the well-being of vulnerable families.
The Governor said Jigawa State had already established a solid policy framework through its State Food and Nutrition Policy and State Social Protection Policy, both of which provide targeted nutrition support for mothers, children and vulnerable households, adding that the Food Bank Programme would further strengthen these interventions by delivering nutritious food directly to those most in need through a coordinated, community-based approach.
Highlighting the state’s achievements in nutrition and child welfare, Governor Namadi disclosed that the home-grown MASAKI Nutrition Programme, implemented across 300 communities in the state’s 30 constituencies, screened about 245,000 children in 2024 and more than 382,000 children in 2025, saying that the programme increased the number of children recovering from moderate acute malnutrition from about 19,000 to over 43,000 during the same period.
“In July 2025, Jigawa State also graduated 600 women trained to produce a local, ready-to-use, nutritious formula for children, popularly known as Tom Brown or Kwashpap. Together, these initiatives promote child nutrition, women’s livelihoods, and the use of locally available ingredients, while strengthening community-based support in line with the approach of the Food Bank Initiative.”
Governor Namadi assured the First Lady that the Northwest Governors would provide the leadership and support required to ensure the success of the programme across the region.
“We will make appropriate storage and distribution facilities available, support selected food bank centres across the States, and link these centres to appropriate health facilities to help reach the intended beneficiaries. We also commit to providing initial support for food packages to vulnerable households and to continue working with federal institutions, the private sector, development partners, and local producers to sustain the programme. “
He further stated that local government councils across the region would be mobilised to work closely with state agencies and community structures to ensure that the programme becomes a dependable platform for food support, nutrition protection and social care.
Formally launching the programme, Senator Oluremi Tinubu describing it as a deliberate and sustainable response to food insecurity and malnutrition among vulnerable households in Nigeria.
“This initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, particularly in advancing food security, improving healthcare outcomes, and building a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria.The First Lady noted that the programme aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly in advancing food security and improving healthcare outcomes.,” she said.
Senator Tinubu commended Governor Namadi for his administration’s commitment to improving the lives of the people of Jigawa State and applauded the projects commissioned during her visit, including the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Road, the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Road, the Oluremi Tinubu Clinic and Dialysis Centre, and the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Academy in Hadejia.
She also expressed confidence in Jigawa State’s capacity to deliver the programme successfully, noting that the implementation recorded in Borno State—which has already enrolled 560 beneficiaries and reached 468 vulnerable children, pregnant women and lactating mothers within two months—provides a strong foundation for the nationwide rollout. She called on individuals, organisations, institutions and development partners across the North-West to actively support the initiative.