The Federal Government has begun enumeration of the nine million beneficiaries on the National Homegrown School Feeding Programme.
This is as it added that the enumeration of the existing number will be followed by the enrolment of five million more beneficiaries on the school feeding programme.
The enumeration according to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq is to ascertain the integrity of its data of nine million pupils getting free meals per day nationwide.
Farouq said the enumeration is in response to the continuous disagreement and questions of some stakeholders about feeding nine million pupils nationwide under the homegrown school feeding programme.
Represented by Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry, Dr Matthew Dada, at the flag-off of the enumeration exercise in Oyo state, Farouq added that the exercise will help improve the quality of its data on school feeding.
While asserting that its data indicates that nine million pupils presently benefit from free nutritious meals per day nationwide, Farouq also stated that the exercise is to measure the impact of the National Homegrown School Feeding Programme for better planning and implementation.
Farouq said, “We want figures that we are sure to meet all parameters of integrity and that can defend it. At various forums, parliamentarians have asked us the details of these beneficiaries, they have asked us numerous questions because these things have been handled by a third party. Now we are making it more inclusive, involving more agencies. If any stakeholders observe that we left out anyone, we will include such person in the next round of enumeration.
“Not all stakeholders agreed with the data that we have. The data are not enough for analysis and impact assessment purposes. That is why we are improving on the quality of the data and getting more stakeholders involved so that there can be transparency, accountability and integrity of the data so that we can measure the impact of the National Homegrown School Feeding Programme for better planning and implementation.
“We want figures that we are sure to meet all parameters of integrity and that can defend it. At various forums, parliamentarians have asked us the details of these beneficiaries, they have asked us numerous questions because these things have been handled by a third party. Now we are making it more inclusive, involving more agencies. If any stakeholders observe that we left out anyone, we will include such person in the next round of enumeration.
“The federal government is targeting an additional enrolment of five million pupils on the National Homegrown School Feeding Programme before the year 2023.
“The only time the programme was on a pause was during COVID-19 when schools were shut down. For now, schools are still being fed nationwide.
“Over nine million pupils benefit from a free nutritious meal a day during school term nationwide, and now we have the mandate to reach an additional five million pupils by 2023.”
Stakeholders to include the National Bureau of Statistics, Ministry of Education, National Orientation Agency, National Population Commission, National Youth Service Corps, Universal Basic Education Commission and State Universal Basic Education Boards are being engaged in the present enumeration exercise.
In their remarks, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Aminat Atere; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs Christianah Abioye, said the homegrown school feeding programme had increased school enrolment in Oyo State.
While appreciating the Federal Government for its commitment to sustaining the programme, the Oyo state representatives demanded that more schools should be captured under the programme in the state so that more pupils can benefit.
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FG begins enumeration of nine million pupils being fed nationwide
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