Sprumbabafather:
I support this programme not because the good south needs it, NO. An average Iboman or Ijawman can afford to send their kids to the best private schools and pay heavily for transportation and feeding. To the Ibos and Ijaws, its an investment so we don't need this watery beans service.

I support the free feeding to enable our northern and south west and north central brothers to send their children to much needed schools because if not for things like this, the uneducated ones will somehow find themselves in power in those states and continue to pull this contraption down, and we end up using our Niger Delta oil money to fight the troubles they kick up

MANofMEN:
NATIONAL SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME TO BECOME AFRICA'S LARGEST BY END OF 2018, SAYS VP OSINBAJO



* Over 9m primary pupils benefiting in 26 states already

* Over $183million has been invested so far

* 95,422 cooks and over 100,000 smallholder farmers benefitting

is it an achievement?



By the end of 2018, with the number of new States in the country joining the National Homegrown School Feeding Programme, it is set to become the largest school-feeding programme in Africa, says Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.



He stated this in Tunisia, where he delivered a keynote address at the closing ceremony of the 20th Annual Global Child Nutrition Forum held at Four Seasons hotel in Tunis, stating that the programme "has been by all accounts, a remarkable success.”



Speaking on the philosophy underlying the Programme, Prof Osinbajo told the 353 delegates from 9 countries, which include experts in the nutrition industry, United Nations officials from World Food Programme, Global Child Nutrition Fund, the World Bank and stakeholders that "Nigeria took the decision to embark on a school feeding programme as an important part of our human capital development agenda, by tackling the broader issues of eradication of poverty, food and nutrition security, and increasing school enrollment."



He added, "it is becoming clearer that the 21st Century will be defined by knowledge and skills. The nations that are best able to present the most knowledgeable and most skilful citizens will prevail in commerce, in science and technology and of course, will enjoy the greatest prosperity and the longevity to enjoy the prosperity. Nations that do not invest enough to produce the required level of talent and skills will be left behind. A farther distance than ever before in the history of mankind."



Emphasizing on the importance of the school-feeding programme, he posited that "For developing countries such as ours and of course many African countries, by far the greatest challenge for us in the next three decades is that of effective investment in the health and education of our population. Nutrition is key to both, to enable children usefully participate, learn and develop mentally and physically to be able to compete in an increasingly competitive global environment."



"By 2035, Africa will have 1.2billion people. Over 50% of that number will be young persons under the age of 25. Today, 60 per cent of the unemployed in Africa are young people", he observed.



Expatiating on the scope and cost of the Programme, Prof. Osinbajo said "at a cost of $0.19 per child per day, we are able to provide a balanced meal for every one of the children. 9,300,892 million pupils in 49,837 public primary schools in 26 states across Nigeria benefit daily."



According to him, "at current numbers, the programme costs $1,767,169.48 per day and over $183million has been invested so far in the programme. The programme employs 95,422 cooks, and over 100,000 smallholder farmers linked to the programme, supplying locally sourced ingredients. This translates to 594 cattle, 138,000 chickens, 6.8 million eggs, 83 metric tons of fish that are procured, prepared, and distributed each week. As you can imagine, the quantity of starch and vegetables required for this program on a weekly basis is equally impressive".



The Vice President highlighted the physical and health benefits to children currently being impacted, he stated that "energy and nutrients with established links to cognition- carbohydrates, protein, fat, iron and iodine as well as minerals with public health importance, are targeted by the NHGSF", adding that "the program aims to provide 50% of the recommended nutrient intake targets for protein and prioritized micronutrients (iron, iodine, zinc, vitamin A, folate and vitamin C and 30% of energy because of the high burden of undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies in Nigeria.”



Other benefits achieved under the programme include a ready market and a sustainable income for our farmers, as well as improved livelihoods for cooks with access to useful and affordable financial products and services that meet their needs. "Financial inclusion is a key enabler to reducing poverty and boosting prosperity".



"Moreover, with the capturing of their biometrics and the opening of bank accounts as a prerequisite to their participation in the programme, we are ramping up on our country’s needs for identification, planning and social inclusion efficiencies in Nigeria."



He told the audience that the success of the programme in a short time is due to factors such as unequivocal political will, transparency and accountability, good value for all participants in the value chain, multi-sectoral coordination and strategic partnership with international donors such as Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation and Partnership For Child Development, Imperial College.



Prof Osinbajo earlier commended the Global Child Nutrition Forum and World Food Programme, for providing such an excellent opportunity for the global school feeding community to come together to share ideas, learn from and inspire each other.



Present at the occasion were Hatem Ben Salem, Minister of Education, Republic of Tunisia; Arlene Mitchell, Executive Director, Global Child Nutrition Fund; Don Burdy, Specialist at World Food Programme/World Bank; Daniel Balaban, Director of Centre of Excellence Against Hunger in Brazil and other regional representatives of WEF and GCNF, international donors as well as other participants.



'Laolu Akande

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity

Office of the Vice President

25 October 2018

mapet:


So because of that, you refused to go to school?

Lilimax:
Tufiakwa!!
My children shall never partake in that feeding programme.!

effoi:
This project has been bastardised. It came with good intentions but the fraud being perpertuated by those implementing it in the various states no get part two. Take a sample of school children in your vicinity, how many times in a month that they are being fed, then you will know that things are not they way its being made to look

revolt:
With eery passing day osinbajo loses my respect. The govt duty isnt to feed pupils but ensure their parents do so. Goshhhhh this govt turns professors to idiots.

reachbenny:


Who in particular?

tycoolest:


That is the way u see it, now let forget the student and food, let take a look at the vendor making this food and farmers they are buying from, this two party will be able to stand up for their responsibilities to some extent through the money they make from it, its a win for them

Akolawole:


Not everyone is as buoyant as you.

mapet:


Both of you, keep lying to yourselves

Bossontop:

Only God knows how much money has been stolen using this program as a front

[img]https://media1./images/34e454b09a79f7825c06e0102171ab7a/tenor.gif?itemid=9410251[/img]

lexy2014:

If u don't no something, its always good 2 ask 4 clarification b4 u jump 2 conclusions


https://www.thenewsnigeria.com.ng/2018/09/food-vendors-complain-about-low-quality-of-school-feeding-programme/

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/02/fg-school-feeding-one-programme-many-problems/amp/

CC: backnbeta

mapet:


How can I "no"..... When you pasted 2 links that contrasted what you initially posted or is it that you are incapable of understanding?

mapet:


So because of that, you refused to go to school?