Betta Edu: Food Bank Will Transform Lives, Boost South-South Economy

….Hails Tinubu, First Lady over initiative; praises Cross River ICT centre

From Ene Asuquo, Calabar

Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, has described the National Community Food Bank launched in Calabar by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu as a landmark intervention capable of transforming the lives of vulnerable Nigerians.

Edu, who spoke with journalists in Calabar, Cross River State, particularly commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife for prioritizing the nutritional needs of pregnant and lactating women, malnourished children and other vulnerable persons through the initiative.

She said the food bank would provide direct access to nutritional support for those in need while simultaneously creating a sustainable market for farmers and local food producers in Cross River and across the South-South region.

“I am so grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his beautiful wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who came to launch the National Community Food Bank. I think it is one of the biggest innovations that reaches those who need it most in Nigeria,” Edu said.

According to her, the initiative would ensure that vulnerable Nigerians could access food assistance without having to go through complicated processes.

“Lactating mothers, pregnant women, malnourished children and other vulnerable persons can walk into the facility and get food whenever they need it,” she said.

Beyond tackling food insecurity, Edu said the programme would stimulate the local economy by patronising farmers and producers, thereby increasing demand for locally produced food and strengthening livelihoods.

“Beyond providing fresh food, the initiative also patronises local producers, meaning that the economy of Cross River State and indeed the entire South-South region will receive a significant boost,” she added.

Edu also commended Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, and his wife, Eyoanwan, for their support and hospitality during the First Lady’s visit to the state.

She equally praised the Federal Government, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the First Lady for commissioning an Information and Communication Technology centre at the University of Cross River State.

Edu said the facility would provide young Nigerians, especially women and youths, with digital skills needed to compete effectively in a rapidly changing global economy.

“It is a wonderful ICT centre for young people, especially women, to encourage them and bring them up to speed with what the world is dealing with right now, which is Artificial Intelligence,” she stated.

The former minister, who was recently appointed Director of Women Mobilisation for the APC Presidential Campaign Team, expressed optimism that the centre would give young Nigerians the skills and opportunities required to access jobs and compete favourably in both the local and international technology space