By Abubakar S. Yakub
Through Strategic School Feeding Initiatives under the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the federal government is rewriting the narrative for millions of vulnerable children. As part of the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the country is witnessing a bold, results-driven approach that goes far beyond delivering meals. It is delivering hope, dignity, and opportunity. This isn’t just a feeding programme; it’s a lifeline. It’s a strategic national development tool that’s tackling malnutrition, boosting education, supporting local economies, and reinforcing national security, all at once.
From the design of multi-sectoral interventions to field-level execution, the programme being closely supervised by the Senior Special Assistant to the President (SSAP) on School Feeding programme, Yetunde Adeniji, has delivered a gold-standard model for feeding, empowering, and uplifting communities that need it most.
Good nutrition is crucial for children’s healthy growth and development, supporting everything from physical strength and bone health to cognitive function and academic performance. A balanced diet provides the necessary vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to build a strong foundation for a child’s future health.
Previously, the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) aimed at providing nutritious meals to primary school students, faced significant challenges top of which was corruption. The issues undermined the programme’s effectiveness in achieving its goals of improving child nutrition, boosting school enrolment, and supporting local farmers.
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A notable case occurred during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 when the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) reportedly found that N2.67 billion meant for school feeding in federal colleges had been deposited into personal accounts of a minister. This was particularly concerning as schools were closed at the time.
Similarly, in October 2022, the Nasarawa State government uncovered 349 “ghost schools” listed as beneficiaries in the feeding programme. These were non-existent schools or schools not participating in the scheme, indicating potential fraudulent claims. There were reports of food vendors disappearing after receiving payments without providing meals.
Indeed, allegations frequently surfaced regarding the poor quality and insufficient portions of meals provided to students. This suggests that funds allocated for adequate and nutritious food may have been misappropriated, leading to compromised meal standards.
Delays and inconsistencies in payments to food vendors were also reported across several states. Also, there have been concerns about the transparency of procurement processes, with potential cost inflation and contract awarding under questionable circumstances.
The situation has changed no doubt. A shining example of its impact can be found in Plateau State, where the SSAP’s office, in partnership with HELLO International, launched a targeted pilot programme in Jos East and Bassa LGAs. At LGEA Kihang, and LEA Ashi-Teng enrolment jumped following the introduction of nutritious school meals. Children enjoyed meals like jollof rice with eggs and vegetables, beans and sweet potato porridge, and rice pudding with moi-moi meals that have improved classroom focus, energy, and enthusiasm.
In Oyo State, children are being fed in Ajagba, Alagbon, Igbo-Olose and Oluwatedo, in the Ibadan North Local Government Area with plans to increase feeding in other communities of the state. International Non-Government-Organisations, (INGO)s like Maple Leaf Early Years Foundation has since 2018 provided healthy school meals in its Transitional Learning Centres in displaced settings in states like Zamfara, Cross Rivers, Edo, FCT-Wassa, Imo and Bauchi States. With support from partners like the National Commission for Refugees, Theirworld U.K, Life USA and individuals, CCRATA Learning Initiative is in partnership with the government through the office of the SSAP, feeding children in Lagos, Oyo and Osun states. International Centre for Economic Development ICED has already kick-started plans in Zamfara by starting off in each senatorial zone of the state.
Teachers, parents, and traditional leaders have hailed this programme as one of the most meaningful interventions in their communities in decades. This success story is being amplified by strategic collaborations with international and local partners: Maple Leaf Early Years Foundation, CCRATA, HELLO International and ICED International are helping scale the programme in states like Plateau, Zamfara, and Oyo bringing real change to communities most in need.
Through a landmark collaboration with Imperial College London’s Partnership for Child Development (PCD), and backed by the Rockefeller Foundation’s BIG BET initiative, the federal government through the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on School Feeding conducted a ground-breaking Value for Money Study. The study carried out across multiple subnational regions revealed that every N1 invested in school feeding returns N10 in economic value, from healthier children and better school outcomes to stronger local economies and national growth. This is more than charity—it’s smart economics.
In light of this, the government is partnering with multiple local NGOs to reach deeper into marginalised clusters, IDP camps, and underserved settings, feeding the children most at risk and most in need. President Tinubu’s administration has shown unwavering commitment to collaborative, high-impact solutions that prioritise the early development of Nigeria’s future leaders.
At the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 2024, President Tinubu declared Nigeria’s bold ambition to double the school feeding reach from 10 million to 20 million children. This bold vision positions Nigeria as a continental and global leader in child-focused development. Nigeria has since become a proud, full member of the School Meals Coalition, joining nations across the globe in the fight for universal access to school meals.
Yes, challenges remain: Those of logistics, inflation and access to remote areas. But the federal government is working tirelessly with relevant ministries to tackle these hurdles head-on with innovative, data-driven solutions. As we look ahead, we are expanding our reach with new non-governmental partners, and we invite all well-meaning NGOs working in marginalised areas to join this national call to action.
Together, we will feed more children in rural and vulnerable zones across the country. Hope is no longer a slogan—it’s a warm plate of food, a full classroom, a thriving farmer, and a smiling child.
•Yakub is a public affairs analyst.