President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has unveiled plans for a N100 billion allocation in the 2024 budget aimed at revitalizing the school feeding program, a move intended to boost school attendance and combat the challenge of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
The announcement came during the signing of the 2024 appropriation bill, themed “Renewed Hope,” at the State House in Abuja on Monday.
Tinubu emphasized the significance of this allocation, envisioning it as a stimulus to not only encourage school enrollment but also to tackle malnutrition among school-aged children.
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He expressed confidence that this initiative would play a pivotal role in addressing key educational challenges across the nation.
“One of the priority areas of the bill we just passed is the N100 billion provision for the feeding of school children. I believe that is a stimulant that will encourage school enrolment and also address malnutrition among school children,” President Tinubu stated.
He further highlighted his intention to collaborate with local government bodies at sub-national levels to ensure an inclusive and effective implementation of the program.
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This recent allocation marks a significant shift as Tinubu’s administration reinstates and reinvigorates the school feeding program, transferring its oversight from the Humanitarian Ministry to the Education Ministry.
The move aims not only to provide nutritious meals to students but also to enhance school attendance and promote improved learning outcomes.
Previously suspended during the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari, the revived school feeding program is poised to become a focal point of the Education Ministry, aiming for broader impacts on student nutrition, educational participation, and academic advancement.
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Tinubu’s administration has indicated a strategic emphasis on decreasing recurrent expenditures while boosting capital investments, with education and child welfare emerging as crucial components in driving the country’s developmental agenda for the upcoming year.
