First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has launched the North-West Zone of the National Community Food Bank Programme in Jigawa State, urging stakeholders to support efforts aimed at addressing food insecurity and assisting vulnerable households.

Speaking at the launch, the First Lady revealed that since the programme was flagged off in Borno State in April, 560 beneficiaries have enrolled while 468 vulnerable children have been reached.

She described the progress recorded so far as encouraging and emphasized the need for sustained collaboration among government institutions, development partners, organizations, and individuals to ensure the programme’s success nationwide.

According to her, Jigawa State was selected for the North-West launch because of its strong agricultural potential and commitment to improving the welfare of its people.

Earlier, Senator Oluremi Tinubu commissioned the new palace hall of the Emir of Hadejia, His Royal Highness Dr. Adamu Maje.

During the visit, she announced a ₦100 million business recapitalisation grant for 2,000 women petty traders in Jigawa State under the Renewed Hope Initiative’s economic empowerment programme.

She explained that each beneficiary would receive ₦50,000 to support and expand existing businesses, reaffirming her commitment to strengthening small and medium-scale enterprises as drivers of economic growth, job creation, and poverty reduction.

The First Lady noted that empowering women entrepreneurs, particularly at the grassroots level, remains essential to improving household incomes and stimulating local economic development.

As part of her visit, she also inaugurated several projects, including the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Academy, a technology hub facilitated by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Clinic and Dialysis Centre, Gandun Sariki Road, and the Hadejia–Garun Gabas–Dolan Kwana Road.