To improve educational support and nourishment for schoolchildren in Nigeria, the federal government has announced plans to expand the suspended Home Grown School Feeding Programme beyond primary schools to cover basic education.
Dr. Folake Olatunji-David, Director of Basic Education, announced this during the Federal Ministry of Education’s launch and fundraiser for the Create That Change Development Initiative (CCDI) in Abuja.
Dr Olatunji-David emphasised the government’s commitment to reforming the project, adding that it will now cover all levels of basic education rather than just primary schools.
She highlighted that this expansion aligns with the administration’s vision of advancing the well-being and development of children and adolescents under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Olatunji-David said, “Before now, the programme only covered a segment of primary schools. However, the President has directed that it will now be extended to cover basic education.”
She reiterated the government’s meticulous planning process to ensure seamless implementation once the suspension order is lifted.
“We are planning to ensure that proper implementation is carried out when the directive is received. Whether it’s for the entire primary school or basic education, it will be done properly,” she added.
The Executive Director of CCDI, Mrs. Sharon Ayeni, shed light on the organization’s vision to make a meaningful impact in addressing pressing educational and societal challenges in Nigeria. She outlined CCDI’s flagship programme, the Enhancing Nutrition, Exercise and Reading Initiative (ENERI), which aims to reach every state in the country to uplift children’s well-being and educational outcomes.
Additionally, Ayeni unveiled other initiatives under CCDI, including the ‘Build Her Initiative’ aimed at empowering girls and young mothers and the ‘Toilet Angels Initiative’ focused on constructing essential sanitation facilities in ENERI-participating schools.
Dr. Fidelis Elom, Chairman of the CCDI board of Trustees, underscored the urgency of CCDI’s cause in light of Nigeria’s pressing challenges, including conflicts with extremist groups and high youth unemployment rates. He emphasized the transformative potential of initiatives like ENERI in reshaping the trajectories of young lives nationwide.