The Kano State government has reiterated its commitment to supporting social development initiatives and strengthening the education sector to enhance human capital development.
Governor Abba Yusuf made the pledge on Tuesday while inaugurating a pilot school feeding scheme tagged ‘Snacks for Thought,’ under the federal government’s National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) at Nasarawa Primary School, Kano.
Mr Yusuf, represented by the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Adamu Kibiya, said the programme reflected the administration’s focus on education, youth empowerment, and social welfare.
He recalled that Kano State pioneered school feeding programmes during the administration of Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, adding that the present government was building on that legacy.
“This legacy left by our leader aligns strongly with the commitment of this administration to education, youth development, and social welfare, which are key pillars of our human capital development agenda,” the governor said.
He assured stakeholders of transparency, accountability, and sustainability in the programme’s implementation, adding that the initiative would be expanded to more schools following an impact assessment.
Mr Yusuf expressed appreciation to the federal government for selecting Kano as one of the pilot beneficiaries and commended development partners, private sector actors, and community stakeholders for their collaboration.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Education, Ali Makoda, represented by the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics, Yusha’u Hamza, described the programme as a strategic step to improve access to quality education and reduce school dropouts.
“By providing nutritious snacks to pupils, we are not just filling their stomachs for motivation but fueling learning and hope for the future,” Mr Makoda said.
He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to implementing the Education Emergency Recovery Plan and other reforms to revitalise the education sector.
In his remarks, the permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Yakubu Kofar-Mata, said the pilot scheme was part of the government’s efforts to promote child education and reduce poverty.
He lauded the support of the Kano State government towards the successful rollout of the programme, adding that more intervention initiatives were being planned to boost primary education nationwide.
Similarly, the programme manager, NHGSFP, Aderemi Adebowale, explained that the ‘Snacks for Thought’ pilot scheme would begin in selected public primary schools before full-scale implementation.
Stakeholders at the event expressed support for the project, describing it as a step towards improving school enrolment, retention, and learning outcomes across the state.
(NAN)