The federal government’s National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) is currently feeding over 9.5 million public primary schools (classes 1-3) pupils with one free, balanced and nutritious meal a day in 30 states nationwide; while it has empowered 101,913 cooks in these states, the Presidency has said.
According to a statement issued by presidential spokesman, Laolu Akande, in Abuja on Wednesday, the initiative has a target of reaching 12 million pupils.
The statement listed the 30 states currently benefiting from the school feeding programme as Anambra, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Kaduna, Kebbi, Kogi, Sokoto, and Nasarawa.
Others include Taraba, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Plateau, Delta, Zamfara, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Niger, Katsina, Ondo, Edo and Gombe.
It explained that HGSFP has not only helped to increase enrollment rates of pupils in these communities, but it is also effectively tackling early year malnutrition while improving the cognitive skills of children.
The statement added: “The School feeding programme has also provided sustainable income for local farmers, cooks, which has increased growth and productivity in the local economy.
“In continuation of its efforts to invest in the country’s human capital development, the Buhari administration has continued to make significant strides through it National Social Investment Programmes (N-SIP).
“President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s NSIP is aimed at empowering Nigerians and improving their livelihood through several initiatives.
“Millions of Nigerians nationwide are currently benefitting from the different schemes under the N-SIP, which is the largest social welfare scheme in the history of the country.”
The statement also affirmed that through its Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme, the administration is supporting the most vulnerable in society, while developing a skilled workforce for economic productivity by providing jobs for millions of Nigerian youths through the N-Power programme, and improving the learning and cognitive skills of Nigeria’s children through the NHGSFP.
Also, the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) provide financial support through micro-credit schemes to small traders and businesses at the bottom of the financial pyramid. Beneficiaries include petty traders, women cooperatives, youths, farmers and agricultural workers.
Subsequently, in the Next Level of the Buhari administration, about 10 million Nigerians are expected to benefit from GEEP, which includes TraderMoni, MarketMoni and FarmerMoni. While the Cash Transfer scheme aims to reach one million poorest households, one million new beneficiaries are expected to be added to the N-Power scheme, arguably the largest job creation and youth employment scheme in Africa
