By Aisha Mahmoud, Kano
The MATAN (Motivation Action Towards Achieving Nutrition) Food Bank Foundation has unveiled plans to expand its humanitarian operations across Nigeria with the establishment of eatery centers at ward and local government levels. The non-profit organization said the initiative is aimed at fighting hunger, malnutrition, and improving food security in communities most affected by poverty.
Founder and National President of the Foundation, Ambassador (Dr.) Olakunle Moses Johnson, is driving the project with a core focus on grassroots food security, poverty alleviation, and agricultural supply chain automation. According to the Foundation, the approach combines direct food intervention with long-term systems to strengthen how food moves from farms to tables across Nigeria.
Disclosing details of the rollout during a media chat in Kano, Head of MATAN Media Desk, Comrade Ismaila Ammai Maizare, said the Foundation is creating awareness on what he described as an “all-important humanitarian project.” Maizare, a veteran journalist and former Chairman of the Kano State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, noted that the centers will directly cater to needy persons at the community level.
The eatery centers, he explained, will be situated in every ward and local government area to ensure that vulnerable individuals have daily access to prepared meals. The plan is designed to bridge the gap between food availability and immediate consumption, especially in areas where household food insecurity remains high.
Outlining the operational framework, Comrade Maizare stated that MATAN’s daily mandate, as directed by the project’s National Steering Committee, covers four key areas: to procure, store, process, and release food for feeding. This standard operating procedure, he said, is meant to guarantee transparency, efficiency, and timely distribution of food resources.
To achieve prompt coverage, MATAN has already put in place a leadership structure at both ward and local government levels nationwide. The structure will coordinate procurement, mobilization of beneficiaries, and monitoring of the eatery centers to ensure they serve their intended purpose without delay.
Beyond emergency feeding, Ambassador Johnson said the Foundation is investing in agricultural supply chain automation as part of efforts to reduce post-harvest losses and improve food access. By linking farmers to the food bank system, MATAN hopes to create a sustainable loop that supports both producers and consumers while lowering the cost of food at the grassroots.
Poverty alleviation remains central to the Foundation’s mission. Officials noted that hunger and malnutrition continue to undermine health, education, and productivity in many Nigerian communities. By providing regular meals and strengthening local food systems, MATAN aims to reduce the burden on vulnerable households and support national efforts toward zero hunger.
With the new structure and eatery network, MATAN Food Bank Foundation says it is positioning itself as a grassroots-driven response to Nigeria’s food crisis. The Foundation called on stakeholders, government agencies, and private partners to support the initiative as it scales operations to reach more communities in need across the country.
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