Governor Dauda Lawal has launched Zamfara State Pilot School Feeding Programme as part of his administration’s commitment to addressing the issue of the growing number of out-of-school children in the State.
The governor while launching the programme at Dan-turai Primary School in Gusau, the state capital, disclosed that the school feeding program will enable pupils to access, enrol, retain, complete, and transition to higher levels of education.
Dr Lawal noted that the event signifies his administration’s strong commitment to working with relevant stakeholders to implement various strategies to increase school enrollment in Zamfara State.
“Our commitment to reform includes initiatives to combat sector decay and foster partnerships, such as with the World Bank through the AGILE programme and with UNICEF.
“Recently, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, in collaboration with UNICEF, formed a Technical Committee of agency heads and stakeholders to visit 14 Local Governments, identify out-of-school children, and facilitate their reintegration into schools”
“The school feeding program, which we are flagging off today, is part of the emergency response initiatives to promote enrollment and retention of pupils in schools while fighting hunger and malnutrition.
This is in addition to our engagement efforts with two other NGOs, the International Center for Economic Development and FINPACT Development Foundation, which have agreed to support the state in implementing a pilot program to serve as a learning ground for program implementers and the State government.
“In more specific terms, FINPACT Development Foundation will sponsor the feeding of 1000 pupils in Gusau, Maru, Anka, and Talatar Mafara, while the International Center for Economic Development is sponsoring the feeding of 3300 across Gusau, Talatar Mafara, and Shinkafi.
Dr Dauda Lawal charged all relevant stakeholders and other donor agencies to explore more ways of providing more activities and programmes.
He stressed that, it will not only enhance their commitment to the provision of quality and inclusive education, but it will reduce to the barest minimum the menace of out-of-school children.
In his welcome address, Zamfara State, Commissioner for Humanitarian and Relief Matters, Salisu Musa Tsafe, said
International Centre for Economic Development (ICED) and Finpact Development (FINDEF) are implementing School Feeding Programme to over 4000 Primary School Pupils in some selected Primary Schools at some selected Local Government Areas of the State which includes Gusau, Talata Mafara, Anka, Maru and Shinkafi under State Government Home Grown feeding programe.
He call on esteemed partners in the State to kindly emulate this noble gesture by extending this kind of intervention to the remaining Local Government Areas of the State.
There was goodwill message from other partners during the event.
COV/AMINU DALHATU
