Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has launched the National Community Food Bank Programme for the South-East geopolitical zone and inaugurated an ICT Experience Centre at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State.
She also flagged off a statewide empowerment programme initiated by the wife of the Anambra State Governor, Nonye Soludo, benefiting 5,000 people across the state’s 21 local government areas.
The beneficiaries are to receive business grants, vocational tools and equipment for agriculture and agro-processing, beauty care and other small-scale enterprises.
During the visit, Tinubu described the ICT centre as a major investment in equipping Nigerian youths with digital skills, while describing the food bank programme as an important step in the Federal Government’s efforts to improve food security and social welfare.
The National Community Food Bank Programme is designed to support vulnerable groups, including widows, elderly people, persons with disabilities, nursing mothers and young children, through food assistance and nutrition education.
Tinubu said the initiative was part of the Renewed Hope Initiative and would contribute to reducing hunger, supporting vulnerable families and improving human development at the grassroots.
She also announced a cash grant of N100,000 each for the 5,000 beneficiaries of the empowerment programme.
The First Lady urged Nigerians to remain hopeful and united, stressing the need for citizens to support one another regardless of political or regional differences.
She also advised mothers struggling to feed their children to visit primary healthcare centres equipped with food banks for assistance.
Speaking at the event, Governor Chukwuma Soludo commended the Federal Government’s economic and infrastructure reforms, saying the policies were helping to position the country for recovery.
Soludo also praised the collaboration between the Anambra State Government and the Federal Government, describing the empowerment of 5,000 residents as evidence of the partnership.
He said plans were underway to expand the community food bank programme so that primary healthcare centres across Anambra could host food banks.
During her visit, Tinubu was also conferred with the traditional title of ‘Ugo Eze Anambra State’ by traditional rulers representing the 179 communities in the state.
The title, meaning “the glory of the king” or “a royal eagle,” was conferred on her by the Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Chidubem Iweka, in recognition of her humanitarian interventions.
Tinubu thanked the traditional rulers for the honour and expressed appreciation for the warm reception she received in the state.
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