The Federal Government has announced plans to expand the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme to reach 50 million primary school pupils across Nigeria by 2026.
Aderemi Adebowale, National Programme Manager of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
According to her, the expansion will cover pupils from primary one to six, as well as out-of-school children, who will be integrated into the scheme in phases.
“By the year 2026, we are looking at feeding close to 50 million pupils in primary schools across Nigeria. Ideally, school feeding should cost between ₦500 and ₦1,000 per child. Even at ₦500, a nutritious and delicious meal can still be provided daily,” Adebowale said.
She explained that the programme’s cost control strategy relies on aligning smallholder farmers, aggregators, suppliers, and development partners to fix reasonable prices, rather than depending on fluctuating market rates.
“With this alignment, we’ll be able to control prices from the rock bottom by agreeing with our suppliers, agri-vendors, and farmers. Once that is done, we will ensure proper payment and service delivery,” she added.
NAN recalls that on May 27, 2025, the Federal Government launched the Alternate Education and Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Project, with a target of providing meals for 20 million out-of-school and underserved children by 2026.
The initiative, inaugurated in Abuja by Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction and current National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is being implemented through partnerships with the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education and the National Identity Management Commission.
The project is part of the broader Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, marking its second year in office.
FG Targets 50 Million Pupils for School Feeding Programme by 2026
The Federal Government has announced plans to expand the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme to reach 50 million primary school pupils across Nigeria by 2026.
Aderemi Adebowale, National Programme Manager of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
According to her, the expansion will cover pupils from primary one to six, as well as out-of-school children, who will be integrated into the scheme in phases.
“By the year 2026, we are looking at feeding close to 50 million pupils in primary schools across Nigeria. Ideally, school feeding should cost between ₦500 and ₦1,000 per child. Even at ₦500, a nutritious and delicious meal can still be provided daily,” Adebowale said.
She explained that the programme’s cost control strategy relies on aligning smallholder farmers, aggregators, suppliers, and development partners to fix reasonable prices, rather than depending on fluctuating market rates.
“With this alignment, we’ll be able to control prices from the rock bottom by agreeing with our suppliers, agri-vendors, and farmers. Once that is done, we will ensure proper payment and service delivery,” she added.
NAN recalls that on May 27, 2025, the Federal Government launched the Alternate Education and Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Project, with a target of providing meals for 20 million out-of-school and underserved children by 2026.
The initiative, inaugurated in Abuja by Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction and current National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is being implemented through partnerships with the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education and the National Identity Management Commission.
The project is part of the broader Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, marking its second year in office.
