The First Lady flagged off the South-West initiative in Sagamu to support vulnerable children, pregnant women and nursing mothers
First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu launched the National Community Food Bank Programme for the South-West zone in Makun, Sagamu, Ogun State, on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, as part of efforts to tackle food insecurity and malnutrition among vulnerable households.
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The initiative, which aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is designed to provide nutritious food to children under six, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
The launch marked the fourth zonal flag-off of the programme, according to a statement issued by the First Lady’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi.
Mrs Tinubu described the initiative as a deliberate and sustainable response to food insecurity and malnutrition, stressing the importance of ensuring that vulnerable families have easier access to nutritious food.
“The First Lady described the initiative as a deliberate and sustainable response to food insecurity and malnutrition among vulnerable households nationwide,” the statement said.
The Oluremi Tinubu food bank initiative is expected to complement broader government efforts aimed at improving nutrition and health outcomes, particularly among women and young children.
During the Ogun visit, the First Lady commended Governor Dapo Abiodun and his wife, Bamidele Abiodun, for establishing three food banks in Sagamu, Yewa North and Abeokuta ahead of the South-West launch.
She also acknowledged the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, and the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Muyi Aina, for their roles in advancing the programme.
The initiative places particular emphasis on the first six years of childhood, pregnancy and breastfeeding, periods when adequate nutrition can have a significant impact on health and development.
The First Lady’s visit also featured a series of engagements beyond the food bank programme.
She commissioned the Muhammadu Buhari Housing Estate in Kobape, describing the project as a milestone in efforts to provide decent, smart and affordable accommodation for residents of Ogun State.
Located along the Oke-Mosan-Kobape Expressway, the estate comprises 108 housing units.
Governor Abiodun, speaking at the commissioning, thanked the First Lady and highlighted the importance of addressing the state’s housing deficit through affordable and decent accommodation.
He pledged that his administration would continue working to provide housing for residents until the end of his tenure.
The First Lady also commissioned the Gateway Medical Centre of Excellence during her visit and held a separate meeting with traditional rulers in the state.
The combination of the food bank launch, housing project and healthcare engagement gave the visit a broader focus on social welfare and community development.
For Ogun State, the establishment of three community food banks before the zonal launch provides an existing local structure through which vulnerable residents can potentially benefit from the national programme.
The initiative also places Ogun among the states participating in the wider effort to address food insecurity through community-level interventions rather than relying solely on conventional welfare measures.
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As the programme expands across the country, its impact will depend on sustained food supply, effective identification of beneficiaries and consistent coordination between federal, state and community-level institutions.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
