The Federal Government has charged cooks of its National Home-Grown School Feeding Program in Jigawa state to ensure they prepare quality and hygienic meals for pupils in the state.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouk, made the call during the training of the cooks in Dutse.
She explained that, the training was aimed at ensuring that the cooks prepare the meal under the most hygienic conditions, as well as ensure that the meal contains nutritional value.
Represented by the Assistant Director Finance of the Ministry, Mallam Badayi Mukhtar, the minister said the training is to ensure that the cooks prepare their food under the most hygienic form and also ensure that they include the nutritional value of it.
“We understood that in the past, the cooks usually cook the food without any standard guidelines about the meal to prepare for the pupils. That’s why the ministry brought in consultants to teach the cooks on the need to include nutritional value in the meal, as well as cook the food under the most hygienic process”~ Sadiya Umar Farouk.
She assured that the ministry would not comprise on the quality and quantity of the meal served to pupils in the country.
Also speaking, the Focal Person, Social Investment Program in the state, Alhaji Mustapha Umar Babura, said the training was imperative as the Federal Government is trying to make the program sustainable.
Umar added that the gesture would also avert malnutrition among pupils in the state.
According to him, the training is necessary at this particular time for its sustainability, adding that this is because there will soon be change of government after the 2023 elections.
“Therefore, we want a situation whereby the incoming administration will adopt and continue with the feeding program. And that’s why training focused on nutritional element of the meal and hygienic in the entire process of its preparation,” ~ Mustapha Umar.
He added that the gesture would ensure consumption of healthy food by the pupils, thereby checking malnutrition among children across the state.
Babura, therefore urged the cooks to be mindful about the hygiene of meal and water served to the pupils.
Usman Mohammed Zaria