NATIONAL SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME TO BECOME AFRICA'S LARGEST BY END OF 2018, SAYS VP OSINBAJO



* Over 9m primary pupils benefiting in 26 states already

* Over $183million has been invested so far

* 95,422 cooks and over 100,000 smallholder farmers benefitting





By the end of 2018, with the number of new States in the country joining the National Homegrown School Feeding Programme, it is set to become the largest school-feeding programme in Africa, says Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.



He stated this in Tunisia, where he delivered a keynote address at the closing ceremony of the 20th Annual Global Child Nutrition Forum held at Four Seasons hotel in Tunis, stating that the programme "has been by all accounts, a remarkable success.”



Speaking on the philosophy underlying the Programme, Prof Osinbajo told the 353 delegates from 9 countries, which include experts in the nutrition industry, United Nations officials from World Food Programme, Global Child Nutrition Fund, the World Bank and stakeholders that "Nigeria took the decision to embark on a school feeding programme as an important part of our human capital development agenda, by tackling the broader issues of eradication of poverty, food and nutrition security, and increasing school enrollment."



He added, "it is becoming clearer that the 21st Century will be defined by knowledge and skills. The nations that are best able to present the most knowledgeable and most skilful citizens will prevail in commerce, in science and technology and of course, will enjoy the greatest prosperity and the longevity to enjoy the prosperity. Nations that do not invest enough to produce the required level of talent and skills will be left behind. A farther distance than ever before in the history of mankind."



Emphasizing on the importance of the school-feeding programme, he posited that "For developing countries such as ours and of course many African countries, by far the greatest challenge for us in the next three decades is that of effective investment in the health and education of our population. Nutrition is key to both, to enable children usefully participate, learn and develop mentally and physically to be able to compete in an increasingly competitive global environment."



"By 2035, Africa will have 1.2billion people. Over 50% of that number will be young persons under the age of 25. Today, 60 per cent of the unemployed in Africa are young people", he observed.



Expatiating on the scope and cost of the Programme, Prof. Osinbajo said "at a cost of $0.19 per child per day, we are able to provide a balanced meal for every one of the children. 9,300,892 million pupils in 49,837 public primary schools in 26 states across Nigeria benefit daily."



According to him, "at current numbers, the programme costs $1,767,169.48 per day and over $183million has been invested so far in the programme. The programme employs 95,422 cooks, and over 100,000 smallholder farmers linked to the programme, supplying locally sourced ingredients. This translates to 594 cattle, 138,000 chickens, 6.8 million eggs, 83 metric tons of fish that are procured, prepared, and distributed each week. As you can imagine, the quantity of starch and vegetables required for this program on a weekly basis is equally impressive".



The Vice President highlighted the physical and health benefits to children currently being impacted, he stated that "energy and nutrients with established links to cognition- carbohydrates, protein, fat, iron and iodine as well as minerals with public health importance, are targeted by the NHGSF", adding that "the program aims to provide 50% of the recommended nutrient intake targets for protein and prioritized micronutrients (iron, iodine, zinc, vitamin A, folate and vitamin C and 30% of energy because of the high burden of undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies in Nigeria.”



Other benefits achieved under the programme include a ready market and a sustainable income for our farmers, as well as improved livelihoods for cooks with access to useful and affordable financial products and services that meet their needs. "Financial inclusion is a key enabler to reducing poverty and boosting prosperity".



"Moreover, with the capturing of their biometrics and the opening of bank accounts as a prerequisite to their participation in the programme, we are ramping up on our country’s needs for identification, planning and social inclusion efficiencies in Nigeria."



He told the audience that the success of the programme in a short time is due to factors such as unequivocal political will, transparency and accountability, good value for all participants in the value chain, multi-sectoral coordination and strategic partnership with international donors such as Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation and Partnership For Child Development, Imperial College.



Prof Osinbajo earlier commended the Global Child Nutrition Forum and World Food Programme, for providing such an excellent opportunity for the global school feeding community to come together to share ideas, learn from and inspire each other.



Present at the occasion were Hatem Ben Salem, Minister of Education, Republic of Tunisia; Arlene Mitchell, Executive Director, Global Child Nutrition Fund; Don Burdy, Specialist at World Food Programme/World Bank; Daniel Balaban, Director of Centre of Excellence Against Hunger in Brazil and other regional representatives of WEF and GCNF, international donors as well as other participants.



'Laolu Akande

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity

Office of the Vice President

25 October 2018

I support this programme not because the good south needs it, NO. An average Iboman or Ijawman can afford to send their kids to the best private schools and pay heavily for transportation and feeding. To the Ibos and Ijaws, its an investment so we don't need this watery beans service.

I support the free feeding to enable our northern and south west and north central brothers to send their children to much needed schools because if not for things like this, the uneducated ones will somehow find themselves in power in those states and continue to pull this contraption down, and we end up using our Niger Delta oil money to fight the troubles they kick up

Okay

They gave them food quite alright.. But didn't give them chairs.
I don't know why karma is taking its time to catch up to our evil politicians.. If it is people who steal maggi now karma will run and be showing chest

The project is for public pry schools

that is good one

What did it changed in term of the staff welfare or have that change their thinking ideology,

Where are the ipob pigs??you guys should come and wail ooo,morning don do

The school feeding programme, tradermoni and also empower are key areas on empowerment and poverty alleviation the govt. Has done a great job..
Painfull things is that.. should another govt. Come in place.. this programmes might likely be scraped.

I have first hand experience of how the school feeding program has increased enrolment.

Children rush to school for the eggs and yam porridge.
It's so painful to see the opposition claiming the programme is fraud.. or non existent, trying to score cheap political points with issues like this.

The govt. Should also bring back GEJ almajiri school program and retrain teachers too.

We are heading to better times..
I am so sure of that.
God bless Nigeria

Only God knows how much money has been stolen using this program as a front

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Is it sustainable?
Will it go round truly?
Will the program be free of corruption?

Until we genuinely have the mind to help the poor and needy in our society, there will always be corrupt practices and selfish interests. It is well.

Hmm

These delusions should please stop it's becoming nauseating...

This project has been bastardised. It came with good intentions but the fraud being perpertuated by those implementing it in the various states no get part two. Take a sample of school children in your vicinity, how many times in a month that they are being fed, then you will know that things are not they way its being made to look

merbenko:
What did it changed in term of the staff welfare or have that change their thinking ideology,

na small small things dey change.. We don't need continue to condemn everything.. Does PDP also changed the welfare for 16 years

national school did what

tstx:
They gave them food quite alright.. But didn't give them chairs.
I don't know why karma is taking its time to catch up to our evil politicians.. If it is people who steal maggi now karma will run and be showing chest

D same food that d vendors say they prepare a plate 4 N35

I wonder why can't things just be done without using yourself as a measure or standard of Africa.

That's why we are fooled because we are made to believe that we are better than the rest of Africa.

It is supposed to be the largest because we have the largest population and highest number of people living below the poverty line.

What does he expect?

backnbeta:
Is it sustainable?
Will it go round truly?
Will the program be free of corruption?

Until we genuinely have the mind to help the poor and needy in our society, there will always be corrupt practices and selfish interests. It is well.

D vendors are complaining cos d agreement they have is that they can't prepare a meal 4 more than N35

One of the hood steps ever taken

Wailing businesses is a very bad business just like a cancer. APC do they will complain, APC no do they will complain. In fact all wailers are liable to die young.

You said you are providing food fie school children but there's no chair, desk, classrooms etc. What a deceit of a government. Improve the quality of the schools and the teachers, get them well trained, make policies that will make life meaningful to people, life will be a lot easier for the parents and guardians. They can feed their children. Tax reform, provide primary health car to all communities, provide good roads etc. That's what we want from a responsible government.

With eery passing day osinbajo loses my respect. The govt duty isnt to feed pupils but ensure their parents do so. Goshhhhh this govt turns professors to idiots.

To me it a slap on the face having the govt feed your children,it means even d govt hv failed.
Turn d economy around,make life bearable and people will feed their own children.

sorry to say this sir you must be mad your coming generation shall share in this food by the grace of God

Pastor wen dey lie pass Satan aka the father of lies

SCAM!
Is the food a motivation to attend school or what exactly is the motive?

Why not provide jobs for their parents to earn a decent wage and cater for their own children?

That food might serve as a distraction to learning. Some of them will only be interested in the food.

This is CORRUPTION in disguise.

lexy2014:

D vendors are complaining cos d agreement they have is that they can't prepare a meal 4 more than N35

N35 meal? How is that possible? No wonder we learnt some students were fed with rotten chickens last year.

Sprumbabafather:
I support this programme not because the good south needs it, NO. An average Iboman or Ijawman can afford to send their kids to the best private schools and pay heavily for transportation and feeding. To the Ibos and Ijaws, its an investment so we don't need this watery beans service.

I support the free feeding to enable our northern and south west and north central brothers to send their children to much needed schools because if not for things like this, the uneducated ones will somehow find themselves in power in those states and continue to pull this contraption down, and we end up using our Niger Delta oil money to fight the troubles they kick up

u are too much