The School Feeding Programme Will Not Stop – Hajia Farouq

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar- Farouq has assured Bayelsa state Government that the school feeding programme will not be stopped as the programme in the state and as a new administration comes onboard.
Speaking on Thursday in Yenagoa at the formal launch of the programme and handover of utensils to the cooks, the minister who was represented by the director legal services of the Ministry Garba Haganawega advised the state not to be afraid because the programme has already been domesticated.
She said “Allay your fear concerning the sustainability of the feeding programme. The act has been signed and the programme has been transferred into an agency of the federal government under the supervision of federal ministry of humanitarian affairs and so it will be sustained.
“Whatever the new administration is coming in to do, don’t be afraid that we are coming almost at the end of the administration. That was the reason why it was transformed into an agency.
“Recall that the national home-grown school feeding programme (NHGSFP) is one of the clusters under the federal government national social investment programme (NSIP) aimed at providing one free nutritious meal a day to pupils of primary 1-3 in public primary schools around the nation.
“Globally, school feeding programmes are increasingly being recognized as critical social protection interventions since they benefit vulnerable groups including children, their families, and communities.
“In Nigeria, the NHGSFP is a safety net for over 10 million children across thousands of communities and a lifeline for income generation for thousands of people.
“The key objectives of the NHGSFP are to increase school enrolment, attendance and retention, improve the nutritional and health status of school children, job creation by stimulating local agricultural production and local economy, provide empowerment opportunities for the cooks, thereby contributing to the promotion of food security for vulnerable households in Nigeria.
“Currently, with the aim to strengthen, sustain and scale up the programme to 13 million beneficiaries by 2023 which is geared towards contributing to the vision of Mr. President to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2030 having previously onboarded 35 States and FCT.
“I am pleased to inform that, Bayelsa State having fulfilled the conditions for onboarding unto the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, have signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), is ready to onboard the programme.
“The state is joining the programme with a total number of 59,113 Pupils in 599 schools and 1,217 cooks across the 8 LGAs. The Ministry has provided 59,113 feeding utensils for the use of pupils on the programme in Bayelsa State, in order to ensure that these free school meals are being provided under hygienic and favourable conditions, it is our fervent hope and appeal that these items are put to use as they have been provided for so that these children benefit more.
“Thus, with the onboarding of Bayelsa State into the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, I am pleased to announce that feeding will now be taking place in the 36 States and FCT.
She asked for support for the focal person in the state Emmanuel Benson to make sure that the programme becomes a success.
He said “Be a listening person. Listen to them before taking any action. I want to assure you of quality service of the programme in the state.
Speaking earlier, Bayelsa state governor Douye Diri represented by commissioner for education Gentle Emelah said that the state’s expectations had been high before now and wondered why the programme was delayed till now when it has kick-started in other states.
He said “I was wondering why the programme delayed till now. I was almost giving up. I was also wondering if this programme can be sustained now that the government is winding up but we have been assured that it will be sustainable.
He however called on the cooks to be diligent in their services and ensure that whatever they want to provide for the children are done under good hygienic condition.
The focal person Emmanuel Benson asked the federal government to make everything fast to ensure that Bayelsa is on board.
He said “Even though Bayelsa state is the last, they should know that MOU has been signed. The federal government should support the programme logistics wise and financially so that it will kick start immediately. And that state government on their parts should make sure that the programme starts immediately. Without their assistance we can do nothing.