NIGERIA HAS THE BEST TEAM IN THE HEALTH SECTOR PRESENTLY” — FIRST LADY OLUREMI TINUBU

PRESS RELEASE

“NIGERIA HAS THE BEST TEAM IN THE HEALTH SECTOR PRESENTLY” — FIRST LADY OLUREMI TINUBU

Receives “Operation End Starvation” Delegation

The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, is entering into a partnership with a US-based organisation, Operation End Starvation, to support Nigeria’s efforts to combat hunger and child malnutrition.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, disclosed this when he led a delegation from the organisation and other agencies under the Ministry to seek collaboration with the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on efforts to tackle hunger in the country.

Prof. Pate emphasised Nigeria’s commitment to addressing malnutrition through existing government frameworks, noting that the recently concluded rollout of the National Community Food Bank Programme, in partnership with the Office of the First Lady, is already making a positive impact across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

“Nigeria is working hard to scale down its 6.4 million figure of acute child malnutrition, while also attending to the health of pregnant women and lactating mothers.”

“A lot of good things are already happening in the country.”

Speaking on the rationale behind the partnership, the Chief Executive Officer of Operation End Starvation, Williams Holdsworth Moore, said the initiative, supported by a macro grant from the US Government and other global philanthropists, aims primarily to mobilise over one billion dollars annually towards preventing child deaths caused by starvation.

“The foundation is impressed by Nigeria’s focus on combating acute malnutrition, and we are seeking partnership for this global ‘Operation End Starvation’ programme.”

“We want to move one billion dollars to end starvation in the next two years across sub-Saharan Africa. The burden is high, but the capacity is also very high.”

“The US State Department approved that Nigeria should be part of our outlook.”

“We have met with the Nigerian health team, and they are one of the best of many we have met.”

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, corroborated this assessment, noting that the level of expertise, commitment and dedication extends across various sectors in Nigeria.

“It’s been a delight working with Prof. Pate, Dr. Muyi and others. I also work with the Ministry of Education and others. The manpower we have now in the Ministries is so wonderful.”

The First Lady stated that Nigeria needed an overhaul, which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is currently undertaking, adding that the nation is steadily moving towards achieving its goals.

“Nigeria deserves better, and there is nothing we give to her that is too much because if the system works, it will ultimately come back to us.”

“I assure you that whatever aid you give us, this health team would put it to good use.”

Operation End Starvation, an initiative of the Eleanor Crook Foundation, aims to make Nigeria a primary focus over the next two years to demonstrate the impact of large-scale investments through direct government partnerships.

The organisation is a public-private partnership initiative focused on ending global child malnutrition and deaths from starvation across sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria.

SIGNED

Busola Kukoyi
SSA Media to the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Monday, 26 October 2026