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By Lukman Olabiyi
Lagos State Government, in partnership with the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, has unveiled a new initiative, tagged, “PBAT FEEDS: Adopt a School for Snacks for Thought,” aimed at providing nutritious breakfast snacks for primary school pupils and enhancing learning outcomes across public schools.
Speaking at a press conference to announce the programme, the National Coordinator of the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, said the initiative was designed to ensure that no child is denied quality education because of hunger.
She noted that hunger remains a major impediment to effective learning, affecting pupils’ concentration, school attendance, classroom participation and overall academic performance.
According to her, the initiative seeks to mobilise individuals, corporate organisations, philanthropists, development partners, faith-based groups and communities to support the nutritional needs of schoolchildren through a transparent school-adoption model.
Princess Adebowale explained that the programme aligns with the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda and the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme by promoting child welfare, educational advancement and human capital development.
She also unveiled a digital monitoring dashboard that will enable sponsors to adopt schools, track implementation, monitor beneficiaries and assess the impact of their contributions in real time.
“The initiative is about feeding minds, fuelling learning and building futures. Every child deserves the opportunity to learn without the burden of hunger,” she said.
Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, called on stakeholders and private sector operators to support local farmers who will be engaged in supplying food items for the programme.
She disclosed that the initiative would begin with a pilot phase in Lagos, targeting thousands of pupils in public schools, while simultaneously creating economic opportunities for local agricultural producers.
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Tolani Ali-Balogun, described the programme as a strategic intervention to combat learning poverty and improve the academic performance of schoolchildren.
Ali-Balogun said the official launch of the initiative is scheduled for June 30, stressing that access to nutritious meals within a conducive learning environment is essential to securing a brighter future for children.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, described the programme as a significant investment in the future of Nigerian children.
According to him, beyond improving access to nutritious meals, the initiative has the potential to reduce the number of out-of-school children and strengthen educational outcomes.
He urged private sector organisations, development partners and well-meaning Nigerians to embrace and support the programme to ensure its sustainability and long-term impact.
The ‘PBAT FEEDS’ initiative is expected to strengthen school attendance, improve pupils’ academic performance and contribute to the broader goal of nurturing a healthier and more productive generation of Nigerian children.
