Writing By Khadijah Aliyu ; Editing By Godwin Duru
Kano State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting social development initiatives and strengthening the education sector.
Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf made this known during the flag-off ceremony of a pilot school feeding scheme tagged “Snacks for Thought,” under the Federal Government’s National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, held at Nasarawa Primary School, Kano.
The governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Alhaji Adamu Aliyu Kibiya, noted that Kano has historically been a pacesetter in implementing innovative social programmes, including school feeding first introduced during the administration of Dr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.
Governor Yusuf assured continued government commitment to education, youth empowerment, and social welfare, emphasizing collaboration with stakeholders to ensure transparency, accountability, and sustainability of the programme.
He disclosed that the scheme will be expanded to more schools after an impact assessment confirms measurable improvements in pupil engagement and learning outcomes.
The Governor expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for selecting Kano as one of the pilot beneficiaries of the Snacks for Thought initiative, and appreciated the support of development partners, private sector, and community stakeholders in actualizing the programme.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Ali Haruna Makoda, represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Yusha’u Hamza, described the initiative as a strategic intervention to improve access to quality education and enhance pupil retention.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Yakubu Adam Kofar Mata, noted that the school feeding pilot is part of the Federal Government’s wider interventions to promote child education and nutrition.
Earlier, the National Programme Manager of the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, Dr. Aderemi Adebowale explained that the pilot scheme will initially cover selected public primary schools in Kano, with plans to extend it across all schools as implementation progresses.
She reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that every child in public schools receives hygienic and nutritious food during school hours.
Rel/Khadijah Aliyu
