Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on wealthy Nigerians, particularly successful entertainers such as Burna Boy, Davido and Asake, to establish charitable foundations and dedicate part of their wealth to supporting vulnerable citizens across the country.

She made the appeal on Saturday during the launch of the North-Central National Community Food Bank in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, stressing that government alone could not shoulder the responsibility of addressing the needs of the less privileged.

The First Lady urged affluent individuals, especially those in the entertainment industry, to embrace philanthropy and invest in initiatives that improve the lives of disadvantaged Nigerians.

“We have a lot of wealthy people. But our priorities are different. And I think it’s high time we started helping those who need help in the country,” she said.

Drawing comparisons with international celebrities known for their humanitarian work, Mrs. Tinubu encouraged Nigerian musicians to establish foundations focused on poverty alleviation and social welfare.

“The Burna Boys of this world, Asake, all of them, Davido. We want to see you with one foundation or the other, helping the poor with your money,” she added.

The First Lady also urged Nigerians not to look down on modest but legitimate means of livelihood, recounting the story of a university graduate who turned to street vending after failing to secure formal employment.

According to her, the individual later received support and has since expanded the business to employ about 12 people.

“Our people should never despise small jobs,” she said.

As part of the event, Mrs. Tinubu announced an additional donation of N100 million through the Renewed Hope Initiative to the Office of the First Lady of Kogi State. She said the fund would provide grants of N50,000 each to 2,000 petty traders to support their businesses.

She commended the beneficiaries for embracing entrepreneurship, noting that many welcomed her with trays of locally traded items such as pepper, tomatoes and okra, which she described as evidence of the importance of small-scale enterprise.

Earlier, the First Lady described the National Community Food Bank as a sustainable intervention designed to combat hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity among vulnerable households.

According to her, the programme targets children under the age of six, pregnant women and nursing mothers by providing access to nutritious food.

She said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its objectives of strengthening food security, improving healthcare outcomes and enhancing the well-being of Nigerians.

“This programme is being implemented through a strategic partnership between the Office of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency and the Bank of Agriculture,” she said.

Mrs. Tinubu also met with members of the Kogi State Council of Traditional Rulers, urging them to champion the implementation of the National Community Food Bank programme and ensure that its benefits reach the intended beneficiaries, particularly vulnerable children and mothers.

She reaffirmed the Renewed Hope Initiative’s commitment to implementing programmes aimed at improving the welfare of Nigerian families.

In his remarks, Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, commended the First Lady for her various humanitarian interventions across the country, describing them as a demonstration of genuine commitment to improving the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

Ododo also praised President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying the administration had taken difficult but necessary decisions to stabilise the country’s economy.

“President Bola Tinubu is a man that took the bullet for an economy that was on the brink of collapse,” the governor said.