The Federal Government has announced the relaunch of the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, aimed at tackling child hunger and improving education across the country.
Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, made the announcement during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Abuja with development partners, non-governmental organizations, and government officials.
He emphasized the importance of collective support for the successful rollout of the initiative.
According to the minister, the programme is designed to provide daily nutritious meals to pupils in public primary schools, using food sourced from local farmers.
“This approach is expected not only to improve children’s health and school performance but also to strengthen local agricultural communities.”
Dr. Sununu highlighted transparency, accountability, and collaboration as key pillars for sustaining the programme, which targets feeding 10 million children.
He projected that the initiative could boost school enrolment by 20% and enhance academic performance by 15% by the year 2025.
The relaunch is especially timely, as current estimates suggest that over 30 million Nigerians could be at risk of food insecurity.
“The programme will focus on pupils in Primary One to Three, aiming to reduce malnutrition, increase school attendance, and support national development goals.”
Scheduled for an official relaunch on May 29, in celebration of President Bola Tinubu’s second year in office, the initiative is expected to mark a major milestone in the country’s battle against hunger, school dropouts, and poverty.
Dr. Sununu also called for strong community involvement, urging parents, local leaders, and cooks to take active roles in the programme.
He noted that the initiative presents opportunities to empower women and small-scale farmers, encouraging local ownership and responsibility.
Development partners such as the AMA Foundation and private sector companies like Tetra Pak have pledged their support. The government has promised reforms and better monitoring mechanisms to ensure transparency, sustainability, and measurable impact.
Aderemi Adebowale, the National Programme Manager of the school feeding initiative, described it as a long-term investment in Nigeria’s future.
She said it goes beyond feeding children, incorporating efforts to empower women, youth, and local farmers.
She revealed that N100 billion has been allocated in the 2025 budget to expand the programme’s reach and deepen its community impact.
She added that “daily meals will be prepared using ingredients grown locally, especially through women-led cooperatives, with the goal of reducing rural poverty by up to 40%.”
To ensure proper monitoring and accountability, new features such as QR-coded supply chains and real-time tracking systems will be introduced. Health professionals, nutritionists, and field supervisors will oversee food quality and monitor pupils’ wellbeing.
Adebowale also disclosed plans to work with the National Identity Management Commission to register and track all beneficiaries, ensuring transparency and efficient resource management.
She stressed the need for partnerships with development agencies, traditional leaders, state governors, and political figures to drive the programme’s success nationwide.
Also speaking at the meeting, CEO of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Badamasi Lawal, represented by Binta Musa, described the initiative as a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s efforts to end child hunger and inequality.
The meeting concluded with a renewed call for strategic partnerships to align the school feeding scheme with the country’s broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).