YENAGOA/Nigeria: Bayelsa government on Thursday in Yenagoa assured the Federal government of its readiness to join in the home-grown school feeding programme.
The programme is designed to reduce poverty by ensuring that school pupils get nutritionally-balanced meals while studying so as to reduce hunger and improve educational outcomes.
Maimuna Idris, Special Adviser, Legal, to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, stated Bayelsa’s readiness.
She represented the minister at the rubbing of minds with Bayelsa’s Deputy Governor, Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, whom she visited.
Idris explained that the visit was to access the readiness of Bayelsa for the implementation of the programme.
The school feeding programme of the Federal Government is targeted at pupils in Primary One to Primary Three in public primary schools across the 36 states of the federation.
According to Idris, the Federal Government is responsible for the release of funds, guidelines, policies and monitoring of the programme.
The states are responsible for the day-to-day implementation including procurement of food items, selection of cooks and vendors who prepare, cook and serve the meals.
“This is one of the four key interventions of the Federal Government in the National Social Investment Programme which seeks to boost school enrolment, child nutrition, and local economic activities across communities,’’ she said.
In his remarks, the deputy governor, thanked the delegation for the visit and also commended the Federal Government for the partnership, stating that Bayelsa is fully prepared.
The deputy governor pleaded that the programme be extended to secondary schools.
“Bayelsa is among the few states that have not participated and we are very serious about it. This scheme will heat up our programme.
“I commend what the Federal Government is doing because it will enhance education in the rural areas,’’ he said.
Also speaking, Mr Emmanuel Benson, the Focal Person, National Social Investment Programme (N-SIP) in Bayelsa, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the initiative.
He assured that all public primary schools in Bayelsa would benefit from the programme
