By Ere-ebi Agedah Imisi
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to improving child nutrition, strengthening food security and reducing poverty through the scale-up of school feeding initiatives that prioritise diverse, nutritious and locally sourced foods.
The commitment was reiterated at the Scale-Up Feeding for All Pupils with Varieties of Locally Sourced Nutritious Food Programme, held on Monday, at the Blessed Obrown Hotel, Suleja, Niger State, under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, represented by the Deputy Director, Nutrition Department, Mrs. Mfawa Tom Usaini, emphasised that adequate nutrition is fundamental to children’s physical growth, cognitive development, learning capacity and overall wellbeing.
According to a statement signed by This was contained in a statement signed by Director, Information and Public Relations Janet McDickson Noah, the Permanent Secretary noted that the initiative demonstrates the Federal Government’s determination to address hunger and malnutrition, particularly among children from vulnerable and economically disadvantaged households.
He explained that prioritising locally sourced food would not only improve the quality and diversity of meals provided to pupils but also support local farmers, food producers, women and other participants in the food value chain.
The Permanent Secretary highlighted Nigeria’s rich variety of nutritious food resources, including cereals, legumes, vegetables, fruits, roots, tubers and animal-source foods, noting that their appropriate combination and preparation can provide essential nutrients for children’s healthy growth and development.
He further stated that investments in child nutrition represent a strategic investment in Nigeria’s human capital, future productivity and sustainable development.
He said the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction remained committed to supporting interventions that address the immediate food and nutrition needs of vulnerable populations while contributing to long-term poverty reduction and resilience.
“We believe that investment in child nutrition is an investment in Nigeria’s human capital and in the future productivity of our nation,” he said.
Mr. Olusanya commended the Niger State Government, development partners, community leaders, food suppliers and other stakeholders for their contributions to the programme.
He urged participants to take ownership of the initiative and support its effective implementation, sustainability and expansion to reach more vulnerable households across the state.
He assured stakeholders of the Ministry’s continued commitment to strengthening collaboration with state governments and other partners to advance food and nutrition security and promote poverty reduction among vulnerable Nigerians.
The Permanent Secretary subsequently declared the programme open.
Meanwhile, in her closing remarks, the Deputy Director, Nutrition Department, in the Ministry, Mrs. Mfawa Tom Usaini, represented by the Assistant Director, Mr. Ibrahim Dantani, stressed that access to nutritious meals is essential to improving school attendance, concentration, learning outcomes, long-term health and productivity among children.
He noted that the programme underscores the important relationship between nutrition education, agriculture, poverty reduction and local economic development.
According to him, sourcing food locally offers multiple benefits, including improved dietary diversity, increased support for farmers, stronger local food systems and enhanced livelihood opportunities for vulnerable households.
He encouraged stakeholders to promote nutrition education in schools, homes and communities to ensure that the benefits of the initiative extend beyond the immediate programme.
On behalf of the Nutrition Department of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Mrs. Usaini expressed appreciation to the Niger State Government, participating Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), development partners, traditional and community leaders, parents, food vendors, farmers and other stakeholders for their support and participation.
She reaffirmed the importance of sustained collaboration towards building a Nigeria where every child, regardless of socio-economic background, has access to safe, adequate, diverse and nutritious food.
The highlight of the event was the training of women on how to prepare nutritious meals for their children to promote healthy living. The participants appreciated the government’s gesture and expressed hope for more engagements that would benefit their families.
