FG Feeds 9 Million Pupils – Minister

FG Feeds 9 Million Pupils – Minister

Sadiya Umar, Minister for humanitarian affairs stated that more than 100,000 cooks were engaged in the programme across the country.

iexclusive News Nigeria reports that according to her, the program, which is a joint effort with the federal government, aims to increase school enrollment, improve students’ nutritional value, and have an impact on the local economy.

She also stated that the program had created jobs in the transportation and manufacturing sectors within the school feeding ecosystem.

She explained that the ministry had identified areas for development in order to expand the program to a total of five million people.

Some of the identified areas, according to her, include a nationwide enumeration exercise with the goal of data verification, data quality improvement, and updating current records to fit the scaling effort.

She also stated that the program would be reviewed to ensure that it met its goals.

Sadiya reassured the public that the ministry will not give up on its service delivery efforts.

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue, who received the equipment, said they would complement his previous assistance of cooking utensils worth N400 million to the chefs.

Ortom, who was represented by Prof. Tony Ijohor, Secretary to the State Government, said his administration had also taught cooks on personal health and cleanliness as well as COVID-19 guidelines.

He said that the trainings improved cooks’ ability to provide services and reduced the risk of illness outbreaks.

The governor promised to assist the federal government in implementing its National Social Investment Programs in order to help Nigerians escape poverty.

Mrs Dinah Abokyar, a cook in the plan in Benue, praised both the federal and state governments for the initiative, but demanded that the number of cooks be increased to match the growing number of recipients.

She also called for the payment of their unpaid wages, as well as an increase in their cooking budget to deal with the rising cost of food.

Mr Batholomy Atsar, the head teacher of LGEA primary school Wurukum, has urged the Federal Government to include nursery students in the feeding program.