Support for Nigeria’s school feeding project has been pledged by the World Bank, UNICEF, and other development partners.
This comes after the federal government decided to start a public-private partnership to increase funding for school feeding programmes across the nation.
Dr. Tunde Adekola, a World Bank representative, stated the bank would support the initiative during a strategic meeting of stakeholders in school feeding in Abuja on Wednesday.
The meeting’s theme was “public-private partnerships and innovative financing to enhance investments in school feeding in Nigeria.”
He said, “The World Bank is working with other development partners to continue to leverage, to support this programme. We are willing to support the government of Nigeria to be able to achieve this objective.
“This is very important to ensure cost-effective, sustainable and efficient school feeding programme in Nigeria. We need to share knowledge, experience of those initiatives that are already working.”
Similarly, the representative of the UNICEF, Nkeiruka Enwelum, assured Nigeria of support, stressing that it is an opportunity to take care of children in schools to ensure their health and intellectual well-being.
Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on School Feeding Programme, Dr Yetunde Adeniji, said, “These initiatives have a significant impact on the educational, nutritional, and overall development of children across the continent.
“However, implementing and sustaining these programmes can be quite challenging due to financial constraints and resource limitations.
“That is why this meeting is of utmost importance. We have brought together stakeholders from various sectors, including governments, private businesses, non-profit organisations, and financial institutions. It is through our collective efforts and collaboration that we can find innovative solutions to address the funding gaps, leverage investments, and ensure the sustainability and scalability of school feeding programs in Africa.
“We are here to explore the potential of Public-Private Partnerships as a viable solution. PPPs provide a unique opportunity for governments, private entities, and other stakeholders to come together, pool resources, and create sustainable funding models for school feeding programmes. By combining the strengths and expertise of different sectors, we can achieve far greater impact and change lives for the better.”