On Friday, the Federal Government said that preparations were being made to count the number of Almajiris living in the nation and register them for the government’s homegrown school feeding program.
During a courtesy call on Abdullahi A. Sule, the Executive Governor of Nasarawa state, in Lafia, Dr. Yetunde Adeniji, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Schools Feeding, disclosed this information.
The program targets students in public schools, according to a statement from Mr. Oyedokun Oyewumi, Special Assistant to the SSA, who also mentioned that her office is open to recommendations.
She noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s dedication to enhancing children’s welfare and educational possibilities through the school feeding program, with an emphasis on including marginalized groups like the Almajiris, is demonstrated by her interactions with the appropriate authorities.
Governor Abdullahi A. Sule urged the federal government to prioritize including Almajiris into the domestic school feeding program.
He acknowledged the Senior Special Assistant’s efforts to implement changes that would guarantee the school feeding program’s success.
Governor Sule urged the SSA to give the almajiris better means of livelihood, stating that doing so will end child poverty and take beggars off the streets.
Governor Sule said, “the incorporation of the Almajiri, a group of traditionally itinerant Islamic students, into the program would help in taking them off the streets and provide them with proper nutrition and education”.
The Governor assured Dr. Adeniji of Nasarawa State Government’s support in achieving the objectives of the program.
“We call on the Office of the SSA to, in collaboration with Northern States, relevant institutions, conduct a census of Almajiri schools and headcount of the destitute children with the view to enrolling them in the ongoing National Home-grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP)”, he said
The Kaduna State Executive Governor, Uba Sani, praised the Senior Special Assistant earlier this week for her proactive approaches to familiarizing herself with states and institutions that will contribute to the program’s success.
In order to enhance the children’s nutrition, he added, the Kaduna state government would collaborate with the SSA’s office to guarantee the program’s success once it gets underway.
E-signed:
Mr. Oyewumi Oyedokun,
Office of the SSA to the President on School Feeding.
17-11-2023.
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