FG TO SCALE UP PUPILS BENEFITING FROM SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME IN OGUN

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq has said that the National HomeGrown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) would be enlarged to accommodate additional 5million pupils as against the 9million it is currently feeding.

Hajiya Farouq who disclosed this in Abeokuta, during a courtesy visit to the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun said her team were in the State to enumerate pupils currently benefiting from the School Feeding programme.

Represented by Director of Human Resources Mr. Babatunde Jaji, the Minister said the aim of the visit was to strengthen the partnership between the Federal Government and States, in order to bring more Nigerians under the umbrella of the government's social protection mechanism.

 "We are here in Ogun State to scale up the numbers of pupils benefitting from the programme as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari. This programme has provided employment for over 100,000 small holders farmer participating in the value-chain", Farouq said.

In his remarks, the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun assured that the State would continue to give the necessary support to all the Social Investment Programme of the Federal government.

Abiodun, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi said the school feeding initiative had increased the enrolment of pupils in public primary schools, as well as promote their wellbeing and performance.

Earlier in his address, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Barr. Femi Ogunbanwo, appreciated the President Muhammadu Buhari led-administration for the laudable initiative of alleviating poverty in the country, through various National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP).