Confederation of Traditional Stock Breeders’ Organization CORET has targeted 1600 Nomadic school children across six pastoralists schools in Kaduna and Jigawa States as part of efforts to reduce food and nutritional vulnerability
The Secretary General of CORET, Mohammed Bello Tukur made this known at the launching of Integrated School Feeding Project in Laddauga, Kachia Grazing Reserve, Kaduna State.
He explained that the project aimed to support the promotion of integrated school feeding programme for nomadic pastoralists schools.
The Secretary General explained that sixty percent of the beneficiaries are girls, adding that the project will also strengthen documentation and sharing of knowledge of good practices in nutrition, hygiene, sanitation and sustainable management of natural resources.
Mohammed Bello Tukur noted that the project also intend to create economic opportunities, economic integration for women in the six pastoralists communities supported.
“We want to reduce the burden of school feeding on parents and increase children’s enrollment in schools. Apart from Kaduna we are also looking at Jigawa, Katsina, Taraba, Adamawa and Niger States. We involved the community for sustainability. We want to run the project for 36 months”.
In his address, the Minister of Livestock Development, noted that the project is timely, adding that it will provide nutrition for the children and build their intelligence.
“The project is going to provide nutrition for the children which will build their intelligence and also encourage them to go to school thereby reducing the number of out-of-school children . It will also make them productive and add value to the society”.
The Minister who was represented by his Special Assistant, Dr. Ishaq Bello said federal government would continue to introduce policies and programs that would improve livestock in the country.
Earlier in his remarks, the ECOWAS Director of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alain Traore who was represented by Dr. Saater Kumaga disclosed that ECOWAS is implementing
127 projects in 15 member countries.
He however, noted that ECOWAS is implementing three of its projects in Kaduna State.
The project Manager, Dr. Abdullahi Umar thanked Kachia community, urging them to give all support needed for the success of the project.
The District Head of Ladduga, Alhaji Ahmed Jibril assured CORET of cooperation for the success of the project.
The project which is being implemented in Kachia, Laddauga grazing reserve in Kaduna State and Maigatari Trans-boarder axis, Maigatari LGA Jigawa State was supported by ECOWAS Commission – Rural Agency Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (RAAF) and Spanish Development Cooperation (SDC).
The targeted schools in Kaduna include; Nomadic primary school Wuro Nyako Kachia grazing reserve, Nomadic primary school Mbela Biradam Ladduga Kachia grazing reserve and Nomadic primary school Tiggirde Ladduga Kachia grazing reserve.
Nomadic primary schools in Maigatari Trans-boarder axis includes; Nomadic primary school Lawan Dutsi, Nomadic primary school Bulama Kauje and Nomadic primary school Gidan Tinau.
Cov/Adamu Yusuf
