Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has called on corporate organisations, institutions and philanthropists to partner with the government in expanding access to nutritious meals for pupils in public primary schools.
The
governor made the appeal at the closing ceremony of the Adopt-A-School PBAT
Feeds Programme, tagged “Snacks for Thought,” organised under the Renewed Hope
National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme at Ibeju-Lekki Primary School,
Epe.
Represented
by the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Audit Service Commission,
Oluwakemi Garbadeen-Adedeji, the governor said the initiative was designed to
improve child nutrition, enhance learning outcomes and promote human capital
development.
He
said the pilot programme provides an opportunity for organisations and
individuals to support public primary schools by adopting them through a
digital platform that allows contributors to monitor the impact of their
interventions.
According
to the governor, no child should be expected to learn on an empty stomach,
describing investment in children’s nutrition and education as critical to
national development.
Sanwo-Olu
commended President Bola Tinubu for prioritising education, nutrition and human
capital development under the Renewed Hope Agenda and also acknowledged the
support of the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, for initiatives targeting children
and other vulnerable groups.
He
noted that the programme’s theme, “Food Security Meets National Security,”
highlights the link between child welfare and sustainable national development.
The
governor added that beyond supporting pupils, the initiative is expected to
stimulate local agriculture and create economic opportunities for farmers, food
processors, caterers and transport providers involved in the school feeding
value chain.
He
disclosed that the next phase of the programme would include the launch of an
online Adopt-A-School dashboard to encourage broader participation and enable
prospective partners to adopt schools and monitor implementation.
Sanwo-Olu
assured stakeholders of the Lagos State Government’s commitment to transparency
and accountability in implementing the initiative, while urging the private
sector and development partners to support its expansion across the state.
The
event was attended by representatives of the federal and state governments,
local government officials, development partners, school administrators,
community leaders and other stakeholders in the education sector.
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