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 2nd Quarter meeting with wives of state governors on Wednesday at the State House, Abuja.
In a statement by her media aide, Busa Kukoyi, Senator Tinubu said the initiative is designed to tackle child malnutrition from the grassroots and ensure that pregnant women and nursing mothers also get support.
She disclosed that following the Inauguration of the National Food Bank Program in Abuja, 257. 17 February 2026, and its subsequent flag-off for the North – East Geopolitical Zone on 27 April 2026, the next zone would be the North-East and South-West, respectively.
She charged the wives of governors to look out continually for these 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 6 geopolitical zones would be located very close to primary health care centres, making it easier for families to access nutrition support alongside medical care.
“These food banks are built next to the primary health care centres so that the ones that need supplements can get their supplements, lactating mothers and pregnant women too will 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 Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dangote 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 the 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 lasting impact beyond the current administration.
“What we are doing in this administration is to make sure that even generations unborn would benefit”.
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, storybooks distribution and other Initiatives are still on course, but they 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 mode of doing business.
Speaking to State House Correspondents after the meeting, she described her role, as well as that of governors’ wives, as “only performing a supportive role.”
“I’m the housewife here, and I’m only playing complementary roles and supportive roles. And that’s what we, all these women here (governors’ wives), have been doing.”
She said the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) was created to help states multiply whatever support they receive and translate it into practical benefits for citizens.
“As mothers in the nation, all I do is just coordinate them (wives of governors). That’s why we brought RHI on board, so that every state, whatever trickles down, they are supposed to multiply it”.
The First Lady said the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s policies, including the removal of subsidies, had been difficult but necessary.
“What we are doing in this administration is to make sure that even generations unborn would benefit”.
She added that the government is focused on changing the way Nigerians think about work, jobs and enterprise. Now, everyone has to know 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 also to explore opportunities in small- and medium-scale enterprises.
Senator Tinubu said the government has made notable gains in agriculture, empowerment and social investment.
“We’ve really covered a lot of areas in Agric.” Because of food security, even I happen to have a garden… I have a garden that produces okra, which I can also give away. So every time I go there to harvest, I always have to give 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 it’s high time we started promoting ourselves and this nation. We have what it takes to do that”.
Senator Tinubu said RHI, in its 3 years of existence, has reached tens of thousands of beneficiaries across different states through grants and support programmes.
