By Fatima Mukhtar Isah
The Kaduna State Government says its school feeding programme has continued to empower women and boost local agricultural production through direct engagement with community farmers and food vendors.
Special Adviser to Governor Uba Sani on School Feeding, Hauwa Mohammed, disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Kaduna, noting that the initiative has become a critical tool for poverty reduction and educational development in the state.
According to her, the government spends about ₦4 billion annually on the programme, which provides nutritious meals for over 25,000 students across 51 boarding secondary schools in the 23 local government areas of the state.
She explained that the daily feeding rate per student was recently reviewed upward from ₦540 to ₦700 to meet the rising cost of food items and ensure quality meals for learners.
“The Kaduna State School Feeding Programme has created direct and indirect jobs for thousands of women who serve as cooks, suppliers, and coordinators,” she said. “We also source food items directly from local farmers, thereby strengthening the rural economy and ensuring sustainability.”
Mohammed noted that the initiative, introduced to enhance access to education, has improved enrollment and attendance rates, especially among children from vulnerable households.
She added that over 80 percent of beneficiaries come from low-income families, underscoring the government’s commitment to inclusive education and social welfare.
Beyond nutrition, the aide said the scheme also promotes unity and social cohesion among children from diverse backgrounds, while easing the financial burden on parents.
She reaffirmed the administration’s resolve to sustain and expand the programme despite current fiscal challenges, stressing that “investing in children’s welfare remains a priority for Governor Uba Sani’s administration.”
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