Hussaini Ibrahim 
DUTSE, Nigeria – First Lady Oluremi Tinubu on Monday launched a major healthcare, nutrition and digital innovation drive in Jigawa State, commissioning a specialist hospital, a national food bank programme and a technology academy aimed at tackling child malnutrition, expanding healthcare access and equipping young Nigerians with digital skills.
The projects, inaugurated on Monday during her one-day visit to the state, include the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Clinic, the National Community Food Bank and the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Future Academy.
The First Lady said the National Community Food Bank Programme was designed to combat rising cases of child malnutrition by providing nutritional support to pregnant women, nursing mothers and children below the age of six.
“We should not wait until children become severely malnourished before intervening. The Food Bank will provide nutritious food to pregnant women, nursing mothers and children below the age of six through Primary Healthcare Centres,” she said.
The initiative forms part of the Renewed Hope Initiative and will be expanded across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Mrs. Tinubu said President Bola Tinubu directed her office to complement existing interventions after reports revealed widespread malnutrition in several parts of the country.
She disclosed that the Dangote Group had donated food items worth N20 billion to the programme, while the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited would support the construction of food bank facilities nationwide with N30 billion.
The First Lady also announced a personal donation of N500 million to the initiative.
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Oluwatobi Adu