Ekiti jettisons political differences, joins FG’s school feeding programme

Ekiti State has joined the Federal Government’s home-grown School Feeding Programme.

At a two-day stakeholders workshop for the take-off of the programme, in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, the state governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, said he decided to support the programme because it was in tandem with the state’s stomach infrastructure policy.

Fayose, who was represented on the occasion by his deputy, Professor Kolapo Olubunmi Olusola, said the state decided to key into the programme following a feedback from government’s agencies that studied the programme, which he said revealed that the programme would be of immense benefit to the people of the state.

According to him, the study had “revealed the potentials of the programme to improve the nutrition status of the pupils, increase schools’ enrollment and attendance, energise the local economy and empower certain segments of the population. Above all, we also noted that it is in tandem with our stomach infrastructure policy.”

He said: “We have decided to set political differences aside and partner with the federal government for the benefits of our pupils. Our participation will be a boost to our efforts to restore the glory of education in our dear state.”

The team leader of the programme from the Office of the President on National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, Mrs Abimbola Adesanmi, said the programme had been introduced in 21 states adding that the programme would improve the health and nutrition of children as well as improve the local production of agricultural products in the state.

“It is the plan of the federal government that all states key into the programme for the benefit of all our children in public primary schools.”

Attendees of the workshop include officials from NGOs, Community Based Organisarions, Farmers’ Congress and representarives of Ministry of Agriculture among others.