In a decisive effort to address the rising number of out-of-school children and enhance educational access, Governor Dauda Lawal inaugurated the Zamfara State pilot school feeding programme on Thursday at Dan-Turai primary school in Gusau.
This initiative, backed by various development partners and NGOs, aims to alleviate hunger, increase student enrolment, and improve retention rates in primary schools throughout the state.
According to a statement from the Governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, Lawal emphasised his administration’s dedication to tackling the issue of out-of-school children in Zamfara State.
The Governor highlighted that the launch of this project exemplifies his administration’s commitment to collaborating with key stakeholders to develop strategies for boosting school enrolment.
He stated, “Our commitment to educational reform includes initiatives to address the decline in the sector and foster partnerships, such as those with the World Bank through the AGILE programme and UNICEF.”
Recently, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, in partnership with UNICEF, established a technical committee comprising agency heads and stakeholders to visit 14 Local Government Areas, identify out-of-school children, and facilitate their reintegration into education.
“The school feeding programme being launched today is part of our emergency response initiatives aimed at promoting pupil enrolment and retention while simultaneously combating hunger and malnutrition,” he added.
Additionally, the state has engaged with two NGOs, the International Centre for Economic Development and FINPACT Development Foundation, to implement a pilot programme that will serve as a learning platform for both programme implementers and the state government.
Specifically, FINPACT Development Foundation will provide meals for 1,000 pupils in Gusau, Maru, Anka, and Talatar Mafara, while the International Centre for Economic Development will cater to 3,300 pupils across Gusau, Talatar Mafara, and Shinkafi.
“I urge all relevant stakeholders and donor agencies to explore additional activities and programmes. This will not only strengthen our commitment to providing quality and inclusive education but also significantly reduce the issue of out-of-school children, enabling us to make our state a beacon of hope,” the Governor concluded.