The Nation Newspaper

Tag: School feeding programme

  • Kaduna’s worthy example in school feeding programme

    Kaduna’s worthy example in school feeding programme

    Sir: School feeding programme is a noble policy which every government in Nigeria must endeavour to practice. Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo was the first to introduce school feeding policy as premier of Western Region 1954 – 1959. In 1955, his party, the Action Group, introduced the compulsory free primary education in the Western Region and free feeding of pupils was one method the party used to win the hearts of parents to release their children and wards to enrol for primary education.

    Many parents withdrew their children from the farms to enrol in the free education programme and the gesture of free feeding became the catalyst for increased enrolment. Such policy till date gave the now Southwest its leadership educationally over and above all other states of the country.

    It is gratifying that Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State seems to be replicating that same old idea of the former Western Region where he has elevated the school feeding programme into a model of inclusive development. By providing daily meals to thousands of children, the Kaduna State government has succeeded in improving the nutrition of the children, increasing school attendance and enrolment, empowering women who daily cook and prepare such meals and also empowering farmers who supply the needed foodstuffs on daily basis.

    It is a chain of advantages for which Governor Uba has been praised and commended largely for such rare vision, leadership quality and as a bridge builder. The idea of school feeding programme goes beyond mere provision of food; it is a bridge to learning, a shield against poverty and a sheer promise that the state government will never abandon the children to the vagaries of unpalatable socio-economic and political circumstances they found themselves.

    Read Also: How Nigeria-South African relationships can be strengthened

    In Kaduna State, the slogan by children is no longer that I am disadvantaged, but the slogan is am I willing to take advantage of the available opportunity now at their beck and call to grow and achieve destiny? Other states of the federation should also copy and embrace the lofty ideal of school feeding programme as practised in Kaduna State so as to build up also the future of the children in those states.

    More than 60years after the free education in the West, beneficiaries continue to thank those responsible for such initiative and they remain eternally grateful to the proponents even in death. Finally, in the words of the late South African president, Nelson Mandela, “Education is the best legacy either parents or governments can bequeath to nation’s children”. Training of children is training future generations. Children are future leaders of any nation.

    A nation that fails to train its children will also fail to reap their future benefits.

    •Sunday Olagunju, Ibadan, Oyo State.

  • FG to introduce new strategies to reform school feeding programme

    FG to introduce new strategies to reform school feeding programme

    New strategies that will guarantee  the success and sustainability of the School Feeding Programme are being introduced by the Federal Government as part of the reform ordered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Dr. Yetunde Adeniji has said.

    Speaking at a two-day Strategic Stakeholders Meeting on ‘the Road Map to the Future Implementation of School Feeding Programme in Nigeria,’ Dr. Adeniji said the present administration had already taken stock of all the initial commitments and national plans for the School Feeding Programme and identified the gaps therein.

    Adeniji advised the stakeholders to embrace the innovations and measures being taken by the government to strengthen the implementation of the programme.

    Adeniji said, “As we gather here, it is crucial to acknowledge the importance of the school feeding programme in Africa. These initiatives have a significant impact on the educational, nutritional, and overall development of children across the continent. However, Implementing and sustaining these programmes can be quite challenging due to financial constraints and resource limitations.

    Read Also; Ex-soccer star, estranged wife bicker over mysterious death of two-year-old daughter

    “That is why this meeting is of utmost importance. We have brought together stakeholders from various sectors, including governments, private businesses, non-profit organizations and financial institutions.

    “It is through our collective efforts and collaboration that we can find innovative solutions to address the funding gaps, leverage investments, and ensure the sustainability and scalability of school feeding programs in Africa.

    “Today, we are here to explore the potential of Public-Private Partnerships as a viable solution to provide a unique opportunity for governments, private entities, and other stakeholders to come together, pool resources, and create sustainable funding models for school feeding programs. By combining the strengths and expertise of different sectors, can achieve far greater impact and change lives for the better.

    “Throughout this meeting, we will have the privilege of hearing from esteemed speakers who all share their experiences, Insights, and success stories in PPPs and innovative finning. We will discuss the challenges faced, lessons learned, and the way forward for sustainable investments in school feeding programs.

    “Together, we aim to chart a clear path towards securing financial support, ensuring accountability, and improving the quality and reach of these vital programs across Africa.”

    The Presidential Adviser said there was a need to find practical solutions that would ensure millions of African children receive the nutrition they need to thrive and provide them with a strong foundation for their future.

    Development Programme Manager at the World Bank Country Office, Nigeria, Dr. Olatunde Adekola spoke of the need to embrace knowledge sharing on the programme with stakeholders from other countries and pledged the support of the World Bank for the success of the programme.

    Adekola called on the Federal and States Government to develop an accountability framework for the programme to earn the trust and support of all stakeholders in both public and private sectors to work towards achieving enduring impacts of the school feeding programme in the country.

    The Deputy President of the Association of Private Schools Owners in Nigeria, (APSON), Mrs Maryam Magaji, appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for including private schools in the implementation of the School Feeding Programme.

    The two-day stakeholders Strategic Meeting was organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on School Feeding Programme to create opportunities for all stakeholders to brainstorm for the success of the programme.

  • FG to introduce new strategies to reform school feeding programme

    FG to introduce new strategies to reform school feeding programme

    Yetunde Adeniji, a senior special assistant to President Bola Tinubu on the school feeding programme, has said that the federal government is implementing new strategies to ensure the success and sustainability of the School Feeding Programme, as part of the reform ordered by the president.

    Addressing participants at a two-day Strategic Stakeholders Meeting on “the Road Map to the Future Implementation of School Feeding Programme in Nigeria,” Adeniji stated that the current administration has assessed the initial commitments and national plans for the School Feeding Programme and identified areas for improvement.

    Adeniji emphasized the importance of stakeholders embracing the government’s innovations and measures aimed at enhancing the programme’s implementation.

    He said: “As we gather here, it is crucial to acknowledge the importance of school feeding programmes in Africa. These initiatives have a significant impact on the educational, nutritional, and overall development of children across the continent. However, Implementing and sustaining these programs can be quite challenging due to financial constraints and resource limitations

    “That is why this meeting is of utmost importance. We have brought together stakeholders from various sectors, including governments, private businesses, non-profit organizations, and financial institutions.

    “It is through our collective efforts and collaboration that we can find innovative solutions to address the funding gaps, leverage investments, and ensure the sustainability and scalability of school feeding programs in Africa.

    “Today, we are here to explore the potential of Public-Private Partnerships as a viable solution to provide a unique opportunity for governments, private entities, and other stakeholders to come together, pool resources, and create sustainable funding models for school feeding programs. By combining the strengths and expertise of different sectors, can achieve far greater impact and change lives for the better.

    “Throughout this meeting, we will have the privilege of hearing from esteemed speakers who all share their experiences, Insights, and success stories in PPPs and innovative finning we will discuss the challenges faced, lessons learned, and the way forward for sustainable investments in school feeding programs.

    “Together, we aim to chart a clear path towards securing financial support, ensuring accountability, and improving the quality and reach of these vital programs across Africa.”

    He also said there was a need to find practical solutions that would tie off millions of children in Africa, ensuring they receive the nutrition they need to thrive and providing them with a strong foundation for their future.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Tinubu moves school feeding programme to Ministry of Education

    Development Programme Manager at the World Bank Country Office, Nigeria, Olatunde Adekola spoke of the need to embrace knowledge sharing on the programme with stakeholders from other countries and pledged the support of the World Bank to the success of the programme.

    Adekola called on the federal and state governments to develop an accountability framework for the programme to earn the trust and support of all stakeholders in both public and private sectors to work towards achieving enduring impacts of the school feeding programme in the country.

    The Deputy President of the Association of Private Schools Owners in Nigeria (APSON), Mrs Maryam Magaji appreciated President Tinubu for including private schools in the implementation of the School Feeding Programme.

    The two-day stakeholders’ strategic meeting was organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the president on the school feeding programme to create an opportunity for all stakeholders to brainstorm for the success of the programme.

  • Kebbi Govt, GAIN introduce genetically modified rice to school feeding programme

    Kebbi Govt, GAIN introduce genetically modified rice to school feeding programme

    A total of 500 students, teachers and parents in Kebbi are being fed genetically modified rice in a test to determine its acceptability for inclusion in the menu of the School Feeding Programme.

    The test is being carried out by Kebbi Government, Global Alliance for Improve Nutrition (GAIN), and the World Food Programme (WFP).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the campaign is part of the Promoting Rice Fortification in Nigeria (PRiFN) project, to address micronutrient deficiency.

    The pupils, teachers and parents are from 23 schools in Argungu, Kalgo and Birnin Kebbi Local Government Areas of the state.

    Prof. Oluwatosin Adu, the Fortified Rice Cooking Programme Facilitator, said yesterday in Birnin Kebbi that Kebbi was chosen for the pilot project because it was the hub of rice production in the country.

    According to him, the campaign is to introduce the micro-fortified rice to Nigerians and weigh its acceptability.

    “After this acceptability test, we will take the feedback to the federal government.

    “It’s expected that rice millers in the state would start producing fortified rice and it would be integrated in the school feeding programme, so that school children and households can now eat fortified rice and stay healthy,” he added.

    Read Also: FG to expand school feeding programme

    Adu explained that the cooking demonstration and sensory acceptability test were integral components of the PRiFN project.

    “This is by raising awareness of the benefits of fortified rice while showcasing its adaptiveness to cooking methods and local rice cuisines as well as its deliciousness,” he said.

    Earlier, the state Coordinator of GAIN, Mr Seun Elere. stated that 23 schools were selected to participate in the cooking and eating demonstration.

    Also speaking, Dr Yusuf Abdullahi of Federal University, Birnin Kebbi, said the introduction of the fortified rice would help to tackle malnutrition and anaemia.

    “About 40 percent are said to be suffering from anaemia in Kebbi; with the fortified rice, the number will reduce and more people will live healthier life,” he said.

    In her address, Wife of Kebbi Deputy Governor, Hajiya Maryam Umar-Tafida, commended GAIN and WFP for the initiative.

    She said the fortified rice contains the necessary nutrients needed to keep the body safe from diseases.

    “The event provides a unique opportunity to sensitise the general public on the benefits of fortified rice and how to cook it,” she said.

    Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

  • Suspended school feeding programme resumes in Ondo

    The Special Adviser to Ondo State governor on Public and Intergovernmental Relations, Mrs Olubunmi Ademosu, yesterday said the suspended home-grown school feeding programme will resume today.

    Mrs Ademosu said the programme was carefully designed so that resources allocated for its success are not diverted, hence the direct crediting of the accounts of the over 1,000 cooks engaged for the programme.

    The governor’s aide, whose office coordinates the school feeding programme, said about 78,000 pupils were being fed in the state with a target of over 100,000 pupils in the three senatorial districts.

    She added that the agency discovered that about 95 per cent of pupils in Akoko area of the state were not benefitting from the programme when it took off.

    According to her, the processes of ensuring that the programme was not politicised was in place.

    Mrs Ademosu said the teething challenges in the programme were being rectified with a team of government officials working with the monitoring agency in Abuja to facilitate its resumption with better and robust coordination that would ensure that no area of the state is denied from benefitting from the programme.

    The governor’s aide said about 90 per cent of the vendors had rectified their accounts, saying: “Hopefully, the right vendors will be credited by Monday (today) and the programme will commence immediately.

    “Over 80 per cent of the vendors have complied fully and their details uploaded. The slight hitch is not only peculiar to Ondo State but to other states…”

     

     

  • School feeding programme costs N6.2b

    The Federal Government has spent N6.2 billion on National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) as at last August, Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Protection, Mrs. Maryam Uwais, has said.

    In a statement, she said the programme, which  is already in 20 states, has been projected to become the largest school feeding initiative in Africa as plans were underway to cover the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

    She affirmed that the government’s plan is to take the NHGSFP initiative, which feeds over six million school children in 20 states, to the rest of the country within the shortest possible time.

    Uwais said: “As at August, last year (2017), the Federal Government spent N6.2 billion on the school feeding programme in 14 states. This has encouraged increase in school attendance across the country as the programme is also designed to improve school enrolment and completion.

    “The National Home Grown School Feeding Programme has served 246 million meals. We are in about 60,000 schools around the country. The government wants to expand the programme to 36 states as this will ensure about 24 million children in 36 states and the FCT get fed, making the school feeding programme the largest in Africa.”

    Launched in 2001, the programme also provides jobs for farmers, cooks and transporters, many of whom are parents of the children being fed. This ensures the children are fed by people they are used to.

    The school feeding programme has many benefits, one being that trained nutritionists are involved in structuring a balanced diet for the children while they are able to concentrate on learning as hunger is no longer a distraction.

  • Borno to use students as spies to monitor school feeding

    Borno to use students as spies to monitor school feeding

    Borno State Government has said it will engage students as spies to monitor the quantity and quality of food being served to children in schools across the state.

    Governor Kashim Shettima disclosed this at the inauguration of a Special Committee to take charge of feeding across 78 secondary schools in the state after uncharitable reports of diversion of food resulting to poor feeding in the schools.

    According to the governor, some unsuspecting students will be engaged  as spies who will be sending him messages via telephone and social media platforms to give hint on the quality of meals being served at dining halls.

    “Apart from approving funds, I will also help you to do your job. Do not feel that I am being suspicious. As you all know, I do visit schools but this time around, I will give some students (you will never know) my phone numbers to communicate directly with me to give me regular updates on the quality of meals they are being served henceforth.

    “You as committee members should address the principals and call them to order. I will urge you to directly procure the foodstuff and give it to the principals of our respective boarding secondary schools. And it is within your mandate to hire and pay the salaries of cooks where there are shortages of kitchen personnel.

    “ I want all of you to work hard and identify some sacrificial lambs. I want you to deal with two or three principals who shortchange pupils in their feeding. As I have always said, education is very important to the development of any society and we owe an obligation to humanity, to posterity to fix public schools in Borno. ‎With the way we are building schools, some people would feel we are crazy because they forget that Boko Haram has taken our education backward and created thousands of school aged out of school children.

    “We are buying lands, we are buying premises and building schools on them and we will make these schools function effectively,” the Governor said.

    The new committee is chaired by the Commissioner for Education, Musa Inuwa Kubo who is a highly experienced school administrator with representatives of the Parents Teachers Association, the Nigeria Union of Teachers and other stakeholders.

  • School feeding programme to keep 24m in schools, says Fed Govt

    School feeding programme to keep 24m in schools, says Fed Govt

    The Home-Grown School Feeding programme will keep 24 million children in schools when fully implemented, the Federal Government has said.

    Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu said this yesterday in Abuja at the third edition of Nigeria Education Innovation Summit (NEDIS) organised by The Education Partnership (TEP) Centre.

    He said the programme would increase enrolment of children in basic education and boost their cognitive performance and effective learning outcomes.

    Adamu, who was represented by Executive Director, Research and Innovation, National Universities Commission (NUC) Audu Mohammed, added that the Federal Government had developed strategic plan to address challenges of out-of-school children.

    He said: “It is in recognition of the critical role education plays in the realisation of sustainable development that the present administration has placed it among its key priorities.

    “To drive this home, the Federal Ministry of Education developed a strategic plan based on 10 pillars of core measureable goals. These include addressing the challenges of out-of-school children, strengthening basic and secondary education, teacher education, capacity-building and professional development, adult literacy and special needs education.

    “The Federal Government had embarked on innovative programmes like the Home-Grown School Feeding programme geared towards retaining at least 24 million children in schools upon full implementation. It would increase enrolment of the children in basic education and boost their cognitive performance and effective learning outcomes.”

  • School feeding programme to keep 24m in schools – Minister

    School feeding programme to keep 24m in schools – Minister

    The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, said on Monday that the Home-Grown School Feeding programme would keep at least 24 million children in schools when fully implemented.

    Adamu stated this at the 3rd edition of Nigeria Education Innovation Summit (NEDIS) organized by The Education Partnership centre (TEP) in Abuja.

    The minister also said the programme would increase enrolment of children in basic education and boost their cognitive performance and effective learning outcomes.

    Adamu, who was represented by Executive Director, Research and Innovation, National Universities Commission, Audu Mohammed, added that the federal government has developed strategic plan to address the challenges of out-of-school children in the country

    He said: “It is in recognition of the critical role education plays in the realization of sustainable development that the present administration has placed it among its key priorities.

    “To drive this home, the federal ministry of education developed a strategic plan based on 10 pillars of core measureable goals. These include addressing the challenges of out-of-school children, strengthening basic and secondary education, teacher education, capacity building and professional development, adult literacy and special needs education.

    “The federal government has embarked on innovative programmes like the Home-Grown School Feeding programme geared towards retaining at least 24 million children in schools upon full implementation. It would increase enrolment of the children in basic education and boost their cognitive performance and effective learning outcomes.

    According to the minister, the government has initiated reform in the education sector to reassess the state of education in Nigeria and refocus the sector to meet the challenges of nation building.

    “Nigeria is undergoing monumental changes geared towards unleashing the creative energies of the citizens to drive our national vision and aspiration as people.

    “To this end, unprecedented reform initiatives are now being implemented in the education sector, with a clear intent on reassessing the state of the education system and strategically refocusing and repositioning the sector to meet the challenges of nation building in the 21st century,” the minister added.

    The Managing Director of TEP Centre, Modupe Adefeso-Olateju, in her remarks, called for the continuous implementation of education programmes in the country.

  • Presidency warns against N-Power jobs racketeering

    The Presidency on Thursday declared illegal any act of extortion by the handlers of the social intervention programmes of the Federal Government.

    It specifically warned that no one should ask for money from the applicants of the N-Power jobs or beneficiaries of the School Feeding Programme.

    The Special Assistant on Homegrown School Feeding Programme in the Office of the Vice President, Mr. Dotun Adebayo gave the warning while speaking in Awka, Anambra State.

    According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, Adebayo said that the pupils in Anambra state were excited as the feeding programme kicked off in their schools.

    He said: “No one should have to pay any fees to benefit in the N-Power or the Homegrown School Feeding programmes, and any such imposition or request for fees is uncalled for and illegal.

    “Reports of such acts of extortion in some states where beneficiaries are being asked to pay a ‘fee for registration’ have reached the Presidency, and firm instructions have been given that such acts should stop,” he added

    Noting that the National Homegrown School Feeding scheme has entered implementation stage with the feeding of primary school pupils in Anambra State, he said: “The pupils were excited and enjoyed the meals.

    “All together in Anambra State, an estimated 76, 690 pupils in 1050 schools would be served every day of school. The feeding programme caters to pupils from primary 1-3.

    “Having met the stated requirements for Federal Government funding for the Homegrown School Feeding, a sum of N53, 687, 900 had been released directly to cooks for the kick-off of the school feeding programme in Anambra, to last till the end of the current school term.

    “All the cooks were recruited from communities around the primary schools for the program, verified and trained to provide the catering service in the 21 LGAs in the State,” he said.