The Presidency has canvassed the support of the 36 states government and development partners towards the implementation of the school feeding programme.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on School Feeding Programme, Dr. Yetunde Adeniji, called on the state governments to key into the programme as part of ongoing efforts to reposition the education sector of the country.
Adeniji spoke at the opening of a two-day training workshop for the domestication of the AUDA-NEPAD Continental school feeding guidelines for Nigerian state officials themed, ‘Encouraging State-driven Implementation and Best Practices for School Feeding Towards Local Agricultural Value Chain, Community Engagement and Economic Development.’
She explained that participants at the parley would deliberate, synergise and explore the best way forward on the implementation of the school feeding programme in the country.
She described the focal persons as not only the backbone of the initiative in each state, but also the liaisons between the state government, schools and communities in ensuring effective programme implementation, fostering collaboration and addressing challenges that may arise.
She said: “We need to champion feeding children, especially from the states. Some states are feeding while some are not. The best people to drive this initiative are the programme managers and the state focal persons that are within the state.
“They are in the best position to champion this initiative with their principals to ensure that principals get on board of the school feeding programme. That’s the reason why we are here. So, we are here today to sit down with the state drivers to ensure that this feeding programme within the state come to fruition.”
Adeniji said the Bola Tinubu administration is committed to ensuring the safety and nutritional value of children.
“We are ensuring that there is accountability and transparency. States should come on board. Let us discuss the issues as it affects our respective states. We are looking at ensuring that the 36 states and the FCT do the school feeding programme as it is”
We want more states to participate so that when we decide to synergise with the Gederal Government, it becomes a wholesome experience for every child in Nigeria,” she added.
The presidential aide urged other states to borrow a leaf from Osun and Kaduna States currently implementing the scheme. Participants at the event included focal persons as well as state programme managers of school feeding programmes in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Others are from the Federal Ministries of Education, Health and Agriculture; Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), United National Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD), non-governmental organisations, among others.
