A three-day study by the representatives of various states of the country of the Osun school feeding programme has ended with a vow to follow the template set by the state.
The representatives concluded that Osun State government has set a good template for the implementation of the nationwide school feeding programme. The school feeding programme started in Osun State in 2006 and has been sustained since then.
Speaker after speaker commended the governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, for identifying school feeding as one huge opportunity for social welfare and an instrument of economic strength for Nigeria.
The coordinator of the National Home Grown School Feeding programme, Mrs. Abimbola Adesanya, had led a team, which came to understudy Osun school feeding programme (O’ Meal) to Osun state.
Adesanya commended Osun State for what she described as the ingenious way it has moved the programme from what it was originally to an enviable one.
“National Home Grown School Feeding programme is part of government’s effort to uplift indigent out of poverty in the country.
“Our coming to Osun was basically to have insight into the synergy within the government structure in running the programme, the strength and challenges involved.
“The programme is for the people and it has transformed the state’s education and economic activities,” Adesanmi said.
The representative of Oyo State, Mrs. Folashade Adekunle, giving her commendation on the feeding programme said, “We have learnt so many things sir and we are going back to our state to implement; we going to see how this thing can fit into our state, we are not saying totally but we will sit down to see how this thing will work in our state. The trip to Osun has helped us, we are grateful for this and we want to say thank you to the national team.”
The government of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola started the feeding of schoolchildren in Osun State in 2005.
Mrs Ibiyemi Jegede representing Lagos State, said, “we must commend the workable model, I think I said that during our briefing, a model was actually designed and it is working for Osun state and then it is also sustainable, that is really impressed. I was amazed about the synergy, its impressive.”
The Governor said social investment on the youths, particularly the school children, is necessary in order to eradicate poverty in the society.