School Feeding Programme: FG Donates Feeding Utensils to Anambra Schools

By Luchee Igwe

The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development on Friday distributed feeding utensils to public primary schools in Anambra.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Mrs Sadiya Umar Farouq, presented the utensils to the state government at Udeozor Memorial Primary school, Awka.

Farouq, who was represented by Mr Taiwo Bashorun, Director in the Ministry, said the utensils would further improve best hygiene practices and safety during consumption of meals by the pupils.

She said that the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme is one of the four key interventions of the federal government under national Social Investment Programme.

According to her, the aim is to promote inclusive and equitable learning opportunities, food security and employment thus reducing hunger and poverty in the country

“We get reports that the utensils are not adequate for pupils as some of them eat with their hands or unhygienic plates. The hand over of the utensils today is to address the problem.

“The FG is responsible for the release of funds, guidelines policies, and monitoring, while the state government carries out the day-to-day implementation, including procurement of food items, selection of cooks and vendors.

“The programme has recorded over nine million pupils enrollment with employment of over over 100, 000 cooks under the school feeding programme across the country, ” the minister said.

Responding, Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra, represented by the Head of Service, Mrs Theodora Igwegbe, expressed gratitude to the federal government for the intervention to address the problem of nutrition among pupils.

“We appreciate this laudable programme aimed at making our children feed well. Because it is when they feed well and are well nourished that their potential, skills and talents will manifest,” he said.

In her remarks, Ms Chiamaka Nnake, state’s Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, assured the federal government of their continued supports for the success of the programme.

Nnake also promised that the feeding utensils would be properly utilised and maintained as well as distributed to primary schools in the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.