The Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has declared that the federal government of Nigeria would not rely on importation of food items to implement its School feeding programme.
It will be recalled that the present government of All Progressives Congress, APC had during the presidential campaign last year promised to give a least one meal per day to school children.
Speaking while receiving a delegation of the World Food Programme, an agency of the United Nations, UN, led by its Executive Director, Ms. Ertharin Cousin, to the presidential villa, Abuja, the Vice President said the Home-Grown School Feeding formula will “energize the agriculture base in the country, so that the farmers can benefit.”
He also stated that the programme will help create jobs for farmers, caterers and other people within the entire value-chain, revealing that the Programme had already taken off in some states with results on the increased enrollment of pupils.
He also disclosed that the federal government will partner the World Food Programme in the implementation of the feeding programmes, noting that this will be very helpful especially as it regards best practices.
Osinbajo however emphasized the importance of partnership with the UN stressing that “nutrition is important for school children moreso at tender age”.
In her remarks, the leader of the delegation, Ertharin Cousin commended the efforts of the president Buhari administration.