Deborah Tolu-Kolawole
The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on the School feeding programme, Dr Yetunde Adeniji, on Thursday, said state governments were in a better stead to champion the cause of the school feeding programme.
He stated this in Abuja at the start of a two-day training workshop for the domestication of the African Union Development Agency and the New Partnership for African Development continental school feeding guidelines for Nigerian state officials.
The workshop was themed ‘Encouraging state-driven implementation and best practices for school feeding towards local agricultural value chain, community engagement and economic development’.
Adeniji, who called on state governments to key into the programme, said it was part of ongoing efforts to reposition the education sector.
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 an 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 who are within the state.
“They are in the best position to champion this initiative with their principals to ensure that their principals get on board with the school feeding programme.
“So that is the reason why we are here today to sit down with the state drivers to ensure that this feeding programme within the states comes to fruition.”
She stressed the need to “Chart a course for the programme managers and focal officers to go back to their states, convince their principals to, as a matter of urgency, start to feed children.
“The relationship for the programme is between the Federal Government and the state government. It’s a synergy. One person cannot do it alone. We are here to synergise and come to terms with how to move forward.
“Our President reintroduced the school feeding programme to the nation because of his love and commitment to the Nigerian child. He is passionate about our children, their education and their general well-being. And that is why he’s committed to ensuring no stone is left unturned.”
Adeniji added, “This programme is not simply about providing meals. It’s about nurturing the minds of tomorrow’s leaders. Studies consistently show that proper nutrition in children leads to increased cognitive function, improved attendance and better academic performance. By ensuring our children are well-nourished, we are investing in a brighter future for all.”
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