Lagos, FG launch ‘Snacks for thought’ initiative to boost learning in public schools

Lagos State Government and the Federal Government have launched the Adopt-a-School: Snacks for Thought – PBAT FEEDS initiative, a public-private partnership designed to provide nutritious breakfast meals for primary school pupils to improve school attendance, concentration and academic performance.

The initiative, under the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, was officially flagged off at the Lagos Island East Local Council Development Area (LCDA), with the Lagos State Government reaffirming its commitment to partnering with the Federal Government, corporate organisations, development partners and other stakeholders to improve the welfare of schoolchildren.

Representing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the event, Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, described the programme as a strategic investment in the future of Nigerian children.

She said the state would continue to embrace partnerships aimed at improving children’s wellbeing, stressing that nation-building requires the collective efforts of government, the private sector and citizens.

Quoting a Yoruba proverb that addressing hunger helps to reduce poverty, Salu-Hundeyin noted that the initiative went beyond food provision by equipping pupils with learning materials.

“Lagos State will continue to partner with the Federal Government, private organisations, NGOs and every well-meaning individual willing to support our children. Nation-building is not the responsibility of government alone. We welcome every genuine partnership that will improve the lives of our children.

“This programme is not just about providing food. The children are also receiving school bags, tablets, snack boxes, water bottles, flasks, notebooks and other learning materials. Our doors remain open to organisations and individuals who want to contribute to child development under Governor Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES Plus Agenda,” she said.

National Programme Manager of the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, said Lagos was chosen for the official launch because of its leadership role in implementing government programmes.

She explained that the initiative would provide nutritious breakfast snacks and beverages to pupils before classes begin to tackle classroom hunger, improve concentration, increase attendance and enhance learning outcomes.

“Lagos leads and others follow. We conducted successful pre-launches in Kano and Abuja, but we chose Lagos for the official launch because of its leadership role.

“Children do not know political parties; they only know food. Our objective is to ensure that no child starts learning on an empty stomach,” she said.

Adebowale disclosed that the programme would operate through a digital dashboard that would enable individuals, Nigerians in the diaspora, corporate organisations, faith-based institutions and philanthropists to adopt schools and sponsor breakfast meals as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

She explained that the initiative complements, rather than replaces, the Federal Government’s existing National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme.

“The Federal Government will continue with the regular school feeding programme, while this initiative mobilises the private sector and communities to provide breakfast before classes begin.

“We will never give children food that we cannot eat ourselves. The goal is to ensure children come to school early, stay in school, perform better academically and ultimately become future leaders,” she added.

The event featured the distribution of breakfast packs, school bags, tablets, snack boxes, water bottles, flasks, notebooks and other educational materials to pupils.

Stakeholders expressed optimism that the initiative would improve child nutrition, strengthen learning outcomes, boost school enrolment and attendance, and contribute to reducing the number of out-of-school children across the country.