First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has said children must not be allowed to go hungry, as she unveiled fresh steps by the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) to expand National Food Banks, nutrition support, and community interventions for vulnerable families across the country.
She stated this at the second-quarter meeting with wives of state governors on Wednesday at the State House, Abuja.
In a statement by her media aide, Busola Kukoyi, Senator Tinubu said the initiative is designed to tackle child malnutrition from the grassroots and ensure that pregnant women and nursing mothers also receive support.
She disclosed that following the inauguration of the National Food Bank Programme in Abuja on February 17, 2026, and its subsequent flag-off in the North-East geopolitical zone on April 27, 2026, the next phase would cover the North-Central and South-West zones.
She charged the wives of governors to continually look out for vulnerable children in their various states.
“Our children are not supposed to be going hungry.
“No matter what, when you see a child that is malnourished in your state, you have to take them and make sure that they are properly cared for.”
She explained that the food banks being rolled out under RHI across the six geopolitical zones would be located close to primary healthcare centres to make it easier for families to access nutrition support alongside medical care.
“These food banks are built next to the primary healthcare centres so that those who need supplements can get them. Lactating mothers and pregnant women will also be given food items from the food bank.”
The First Lady explained that the project is being strengthened through support from donors and partner agencies, including the Bank of Agriculture, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dangote Group, and the National Population Commission.
She said the support would help build and sustain the food banks across the states.
“What we have done so far is to come up with a strategy, which for me is a very good example.
“It is now left for the First Ladies to take it upon themselves and make sure that the states have more food banks because our children are not supposed to be going hungry.”
She said the efforts are part of a broader social investment agenda under RHI, which also covers education, scholarships, economic empowerment, and environmental campaigns.
According to her, the programmes are meant to create a lasting impact beyond the current administration.
“What we are doing in this administration is to make sure that even generations unborn will benefit,” she said.
Senator Tinubu also urged state governments and their spouses to do more to identify and support malnourished children early.
On the wider nutrition strategy, she stressed the importance of linking food support with health interventions for women and children.
The First Lady further called for more donations to the National Food Bank Drive, which is domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Senator Tinubu said the RHI Green Nigeria Challenge, scholarships, storybook distribution, and other initiatives are still on course, but insisted that the fight against child hunger must remain central.
The First Lady reiterated that the reforms being pursued by President Bola Tinubu’s administration are aimed at building “lasting legacies” that would benefit generations yet unborn, even as she urged Nigerians to adjust to the changing realities of the economy and the evolving way of doing business.
Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, she described her role, as well as those of governors’ wives, as “only performing supportive roles.”
“I’m the housewife here, and I’m only playing complementary and supportive roles. And that’s what all these women here (governors’ wives) have been doing,” she said.
According to her, the Renewed Hope Initiative was created to help states multiply whatever support they receive and translate it into practical benefits for citizens.
“As mothers of the nation, all I do is coordinate them (wives of governors). That’s why we brought RHI on board, so that whatever trickles down to every state, they are supposed to multiply it,” she added.
The First Lady said the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s policies, including subsidy removal, had been difficult but necessary.
“What we are doing in this administration is to make sure that even generations unborn will benefit,” she said.
She added that the government is focused on changing the way Nigerians think about work, jobs, and enterprise.
“Now, everyone has to know that the way of doing business is different.”
The First Lady said many young people still expect government jobs, even though opportunities are now more likely to come through ministries and agencies via their digital application platforms.
“We have to inform the youth.”
She urged them to also explore small and medium-scale enterprise opportunities.
Senator Tinubu said the government has made notable gains in agriculture, empowerment, and social investment.
“We’ve really covered a lot of areas in agriculture.
“Because of food security, I even have a garden. I have a garden that produces okra, which I also give away. So every time I go there to harvest, I always give some to my staff.”
She used the opportunity to encourage Nigerians to value local culture and food products.
“We have a very, very proud culture. And I think this is the right time to start promoting ourselves and this nation. We have what it takes to do that.”
Senator Tinubu said RHI, in its three years of existence, has reached tens of thousands of beneficiaries across different states through grants and support programmes.
