In a bid to sustain the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, the Edo State Government has embarked on an assessment tour of various schools and beneficiaries of the federal government’s SIP programmes in the state.
The states’ Focal Person on SIP, Osayuwamen Aladeselu, who visited schools and beneficiaries of the intervention programmes in Benin City, reassured of the continuous support of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led government to the sustenance of the initiatives, including the ongoing N-Power and School Feeding Programmes.
The team visited Obanosa Primary School; Obaseki Memorial Primary School and Esigie Primary Schools, the beneficiaries of the Homegrown School Feeding Programme, to evaluate cooks contracted to feed the pupils.
The Focal Person, who commended Governor Godwin Obaseki for ensuring the success of the school feeding programme in Edo State, said the initiative has led to increased attendance and enrollment in government schools.
According to her, the pupils are excited about the programme as they don’t want to miss school because they don’t want to miss the food.
She added that it has also led to increase in attendance and enrollment in government schools, stressing that the school feeding programme has achieved one of its core objectives, which is to increase enrollment, retention and improve the nutritious health of pupils
Speaking,the Head Teacher, Obaseki Memorial School, Abudu, Miss. Sunday Rose, said the School Feeding program is a welcome development that has caused an influx of pupils.
She said, “The children love it; a lot of parents have brought their children for enrollment due to the school feeding program. We appreciate the government for the program as the parents are happy because not all of them can afford a meal for their children in this present economic situation.”
Some parents of the pupils at Obanosa primary School, Mrs. Rosemary Igbinidu and Mr. Joseph Okunde, who spoke in separate interviews, commended the government for the laudable initiative.
Funmi Imuetinyan
FIC Benin
