The Presidency, on Thursday emphasized that state governments are best positioned to champion the school feeding programme. Dr. Yetunde Adeniji, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on the School Feeding Programme, made this announcement in Abuja.
Adeniji encouraged state governments to adopt the programme as part of efforts to revitalize the country's education sector. She spoke at the opening of a two-day training workshop aimed at domesticating the African Union Development Agency and New Partnership for Africa’s Development continental school feeding guidelines for Nigerian state officials.
Adeniji explained that participants would discuss, collaborate, and explore the best ways to implement the school feeding programme. She highlighted the role of focal persons as critical to the initiative, serving as liaisons between state governments, schools, and communities to ensure effective implementation and address challenges.
“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,” Adeniji stated.
She stressed the importance of state officials convincing their leaders to prioritize the school feeding programme, emphasizing the need for collaboration between federal and state governments.
“Our President reintroduced the school feeding programme because of his love and commitment to the Nigerian child. He is passionate about our children, their education, and their well-being. And that is why he’s committed to ensuring no stone is left unturned,” Adeniji noted.
She concluded by highlighting the broader impact of the programme, stating, “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.”
