By Joyce Remi- Babayeju
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq has said that the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme will address the problem of malnutrition among children in Nigeria.
In a press release signed by Halima Oyelade , SA Strategy Communications of the ministry made available to Daybreak Farouq disclosed this on Thursday June 17th in Ilorin during a courtesy visit to Gov. AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman.
The Minister, who was represented by the Special Assistant to the President on the National Social Investment Programme (SAPNSIP), Dr Nasiru Mahmud, said that they were in the State to assess the preparedness of the State for the implementation of National Home Grown School Feeding Programme.
She noted that one of objectives of the programme was to address the problem of malnutrition among school pupils in Nigeria.
The minister explained that research has shown that malnutrition among Nigerian children was high, adding that through the school feeding programme, the problem is being addressed.
She added that another objective of the programme is to boost local economy because the food is bought from local farmers and vendors, saying that it creates a long value chain.
According to the minister the national ongoing school feeding programme is one of the four interventions implemented under the National Social Investment Programme, adding that Kwara is one of the two states in Nigeria that are not enrolled into the programme.
“The Ministry is concerned and came down to Kwara to assess the level of preparedness of the State to commence the programmme and the necessary support the State requires for the programme to take-off.”
“We are happy with what we have seen, the state government is ready for the programme.”
“Over 1, 500 public primary schools have been identified and over 96, 000 pupils of primary one to three spread across the 16 local government areas of the State will benefit.”
The role of federal government is to provide money for the feeding and make sure the States comply with set guidelines for implementing the programmme.”the Minister said.
In her Response, Hajia Bashirat Abdulrazaq, the State Focal person, National Social Investment Programme in Kwara, assured the Minister’s team of the state government’s readiness for the programme.
She said over 1,947 cooks were on ground to benefit from the programme, adding that there would be revalidation as the programme goes on, adding that the programme will boost the enrollment of pupils and reduce malnutrition among children in the State.
She disclosed that some cooks employed were the parents of the school pupils, so as the parents benefit, the children benefit and the poor farmers who are the fathers also benefit.
“So we target the poor vulnerable people to eradicate poverty in Nigeria,” she said.
Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq commended the federal government for the programme.
AbdulRazaq, who was represented by his deputy, Kayode Alabi, commended the Federal Government for initiating the programme to reduce the number of out of school children while also helping local farmers and create employment opportunities.
The governor assured the team of the State government’s support and cooperation.
