Vice President Kashim Shettima has revealed that Nigeria will require about N1 trillion annually to effectively sustain the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme.
Speaking at an education stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja, Shettima said the initiative remains one of the most impactful social intervention programmes introduced in recent years, but sustaining it on a large scale demands significant financial commitment.
According to him, the school feeding programme does not only address malnutrition and improve the health of school children, but also serves as an incentive to boost school enrolment and reduce the rate of out-of-school children across the country.
The Vice President explained that the programme, if properly funded, would also stimulate the agricultural value chain by creating markets for local farmers and empowering food vendors, particularly women. However, he noted that current economic realities pose a challenge to its expansion.
Shettima called on state governments, private sector players, and development partners to collaborate with the Federal Government to ensure the programme’s continuity. He stressed that investing in the education and nutrition of children remains a critical pathway to breaking the cycle of poverty and securing Nigeria’s future.
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