The Lagos State Government and the Federal Government has flagged-off the Adopt-a-School: Snacks for Thought – PBAT FEEDS initiative, a public-private partnership aimed at providing nutritious breakfast meals for primary school pupils to improve school attendance, concentration and academic performance.
The initiative, under the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, was flagged off at Lagos Island East Local Council Development Area (LCDA), with the Lagos State Government reaffirming its commitment to partnering with the Federal Government, corporate organisations, development partners and well-meaning Nigerians to improve the welfare of schoolchildren.
Speaking at the launch, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, described the programme as a strategic investment in the future of Nigerian children.
She said the state government welcomed partnerships that would enhance children’s wellbeing, stressing that the government alone could not shoulder the responsibility of nation-building.
Salu-Hundeyin said when hunger is addressed, poverty is reduced, noting that collective efforts were essential to achieving sustainable development.
“Lagos State will continue to partner with the Federal Government, private organisations, NGOs and every well-meaning individual willing to support our children. Nation-building is not the responsibility of government alone. We are doing our best, but we welcome every genuine partnership that will improve the lives of our children.
“This programme is not just about providing food. The children are also receiving school bags, tablets, snack boxes, water bottles, flasks, notebooks and other learning materials. Our doors remain open to organisations and individuals who want to contribute to child development under Governor Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES Plus Agenda,” she said.
Some of the items awaiting distribution to school children at the premises of Lagos Island East LCDA.
The National Programme Manager of the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, described Lagos as the ideal location for the official launch of the initiative, saying the state had once again demonstrated leadership.
She said the programme was designed to provide nutritious breakfast snacks and beverages to pupils before classes begin, helping to address classroom hunger, improve concentration, boost attendance and enhance learning outcomes.
“Lagos leads and others follow. We conducted successful pre-launches in Kano and Abuja, but we chose Lagos for the official launch because of its leadership role.
“Children do not know political parties; they only know food. Our objective is to ensure that no child starts learning on an empty stomach,” she said.
Adebowale explained that the initiative would operate through an innovative digital dashboard that would allow individuals, Nigerians in the diaspora, corporate organisations, faith-based institutions and philanthropists to adopt schools and sponsor breakfast meals as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility.
According to Adebowale, the programme complements rather than replaces the Federal Government’s existing National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme.
“The Federal Government will continue with the regular school feeding programme, while this initiative mobilises the private sector and communities to provide breakfast before classes begin.
“We will never give children food that we cannot eat ourselves. The goal is to ensure children come to school early, stay in school, perform better academically and ultimately become future leaders,” she added.
Chairman of Lagos Island East LCDA, Muibi Folawiyo, commended the Lagos State Government and the Federal Government for selecting the council as the venue for the flag-off.
He said the initiative would encourage punctuality, improve attendance and create a more conducive learning environment for pupils.
Folawiyo called on banks, insurance companies, religious organisations and other corporate bodies to adopt schools within their communities as part of their corporate social responsibility.
“Government cannot do it alone. This is an opportunity for the private sector and other stakeholders to invest in the future of our children. The investment we make today will determine the Nigeria we build tomorrow,” he said.
Two pupils of Christ Churh Catheral School with their pack.
The event featured the distribution of breakfast packs alongside school bags, tablets, snack boxes, water bottles, flasks, notebooks and other educational materials to pupils, with stakeholders expressing optimism that the initiative would improve child nutrition, strengthen learning outcomes and reduce the number of out-of-school children across the country.
