Jigawa Hosts Northwest Governors as Remi Tinubu Launches Food Banks and New Tech Projects

Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi welcomed his colleagues from the Northwest region on Monday. They gathered for the launch of the National Community Food Bank Programme and other development projects in Hadejia Local Government Area.

This programme aims to tackle food insecurity and malnutrition. It focuses on vulnerable children under six, pregnant women, and nursing mothers in the seven states of the Northwest.

All the governors from the Northwest attended the event. They included Uba Sani (Kaduna), Abba Yusuf (Kano), Dikko Umaru Radda (Katsina), Nasir Idris (Kebbi), Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and the host, Umar Namadi (Jigawa). They came with their wives.

At the launch, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady of Nigeria, said the programme aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s 'Renewed Hope Agenda'. This agenda focuses on improving healthcare and national food security.

The initiative involves several agencies, including the Office of the First Lady, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and the Bank of Agriculture.

Mrs Tinubu mentioned that after the establishment of the Trust Fund on April 2, and the successful launch in Borno State on April 27, Jigawa is the second to roll out this programme in the region.

"The success of this programme will depend on sustained collaboration," she said. She called on everyone, including individuals and organizations, to support the rollout. "We must work together to build a transparent and efficient food bank system that reaches vulnerable households across Nigeria."

Besides launching the food bank, Mrs Tinubu’s visit to Jigawa also saw the commissioning of several important projects. These include healthcare and educational initiatives developed by Governor Namadi's administration and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

She commissioned the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Academy and the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Clinic and Dialysis Centre. These projects aim to boost digital education, improve healthcare, enhance road infrastructure, and strengthen food security under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Bola Ahmed Tinubu Academy, delivered by NITDA, will provide a space for innovation. It features a FabLab for AI, robotics, and health tech research, along with an AI-powered Innovation Hub and startup incubation centre. The campus comes with CBT facilities, collaborative workspaces, a modern auditorium, and a 60-bed hostel.

Mrs Tinubu also opened the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Clinic and Dialysis Centre. This facility, equipped by the FutureMap Foundation and eHealth Africa, aims to improve access to quality healthcare for underserved communities.

The clinic includes advanced diagnostic labs, a dialysis centre, an operating theatre, and maternity wards. To support its services, it has an integrated oxygen system and renewable energy to prevent interruptions.

The First Lady encouraged young people to take advantage of the opportunities at the academy. She praised NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, for his dedication to spreading technology and innovation benefits in communities.

In his speech, Governor Namadi said the food bank launch highlights the duty of public service. He emphasized the need to ensure that every child can grow healthy without struggling for nutritious food. He noted that food and nutrition insecurity have severe lifelong effects on the most vulnerable households.

"I believe the National Community Food Bank Initiative is a timely intervention. It will bring food resources closer to those who need them most and help improve nutrition among children," he said.

He expressed gratitude for the compassion behind the Renewed Hope Initiative. The Food Bank Programme aims not just to provide relief but also to improve nutrition and support vulnerable households through partnerships with community leaders, farmers, civil society, and development partners.

"This aligns strongly with our goals for Greater Jigawa and our focus on human capital development," Governor Namadi added.