A Non-Governmental Organization, NGO, African Children Aid Education and Development Foundation in collaboration with the Denmark Embassy in Nigeria has commenced the feeding of pupils through it’s school farm meal programme in the state.
The organization which is sponsored by the Dannish Embassy in Nigeria is targeting feeding of over 2000 pupils drawn from four pilot primary schools spread across the three senatorial districts of the state daily.
The schools include St Michael Primary School, Effiat Offot, Abak road, Uyo, St. Ann Primary school, Ifuho, Ikot Ekpene, Qua Iboe Church group school, Ikot Akpatek, ONNA, and Government Primary school Idung Offiong in Eket Local Council.
Speaking at St Michael Primary, Uyo, during the flag-off ceremony which was held simultaneously across the affected schools, the programme Coordinator, Mr David Umem expressed appreciation that the project has come to reality with the official implementation of the the project in the state.
He said that the last phase was planting adding that what was planted is now what is being used in cooking for the children.
According to him “What we are doing today is the official implementation of the project. The last phase was the planting, not what was planted is what we will be using now in cooking for the children. So ‘we have just started the cooking and for the children to start feeling.”
The Program Coordinator said the sustainability of the programme depends on the success of the first and second phase of the programme
“The sustainability of the project will depend on the success of the first and second phase. There is nobody that does not like good thing. When we see the success of the first phase, most likely we will be going for the second phase and third phase and it will continue like that.” He said.
In his remarks, the Acting chairman of Akwa Ibom State Universal Basic Education Board Mr. Iniobong Akpan while thanking the partners for the project, described it as a wonderful initiative because what is produced is what is being used in feeding the children in the school.
“Today, i come here to witness what is happening here in this Primary school. Our partners just started school farm for school meal. It is a wonderful initiative because what they are using in feeding the children is produced here. By my side here is the fish pond and we also have a farm over there where they using to feed the kids, it a good thing and I want to thank our partners for this initiative.” Akpan stated.
Head Teacher of the school, Deaconess Victoria Effiong Jacob, while appreciating the partners for the project which she noted would raise the number of school enrollment, also thanked God for choosing her school as one of the many schools in the state for the pilots scheme of the project.
