The Federal Government has announced plans to scale up the Homegrown School Feeding Programme to reach 20 million children by 2026, describing it as both an educational boost and a national security measure.
Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed this on Friday at the National Policy Forum on the Institutionalisation and Implementation of the Renewed Hope National Home Grown School Feeding Programme in Abuja.
Represented by his Special Adviser on Economic Affairs, Dr. Kolade Fasua, Shettima said the initiative, relaunched earlier this year under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is the boldest expansion in its history.
According to him, the programme aims to increase school enrollment, enhance learning outcomes, and provide a daily market for smallholder farmers, women entrepreneurs, and local food processors. An additional Alternate Education and School Feeding Project is also targeting out-of-school and highly vulnerable children.
“With integration of the National Identity Management system, transparency is assured. Real pupils will receive real meals, and every naira spent will work twice—once for the child, and once for the local economy,” Shettima stated.
While admitting that sustaining nationwide coverage could cost up to ₦1 trillion, he stressed that it should be seen as a nation-building investment rather than a financial burden.
He added that each school meal also serves as a barrier against violent group recruitment, provides hope in fragile communities, and strengthens local economies by empowering farmers, cooks, and women-led businesses.
Shettima called on state governments, private investors, and development partners to align with the federal government’s vision, noting that the programme’s success would be measured not only by hunger-free classrooms but also by safer, more resilient communities.
In his keynote, Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Tanko Sununu, represented by Mr. Valentine Ezulu, urged the enactment of a National Home Grown School Feeding Act to guarantee sustainability across administrations. He also recommended a national nutrition guideline to ensure safe, balanced meals for children in line with global standards.
0 Comments