Oto Awori Joins Statewide Rollout of Renewed Hope School Feeding Programme

Oto Awori Joins Statewide Rollout of Renewed Hope School Feeding Programme

….as FG Unveils Digital Dashboard to Drive Transparency in School Feeding Programme

By Naomi Onome

The Federal Government, through the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, in partnership with the Lagos State Government and Conference 57, has officially launched the “Adopt A School: Snacks for Thought” initiative and its digital monitoring dashboard in Oto Awori Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos State.

The programme, held at L.A. Nursery and Primary School 2, Ilobo Elegba, marks the commencement of the initiative across the three senatorial districts of Lagos State as part of efforts to strengthen nutrition, improve learning outcomes and boost school enrolment among public primary school pupils.

Speaking during the event, the Chief Press Secretary of Oto Awori LCDA, Ayomide Boudunrin, welcomed dignitaries and introduced the Executive Chairman of Oto Awori LCDA, Hon. Kareem Azeez Abiodun; the Vice Chairman, Hon. Moses Olabisi Aina; the Chairperson, Alhaja Basirat Kareem; the Leader of the Legislative Arm, Hon. Audu Sulaimon Awoyemi; the Council Secretary, Hon. Ajose Tokunbo; the Council Manager, Mrs. Welu Olamide; councillors, supervisors, the Chief of Staff, management staff, the Headmistress of the host school, as well as representatives of the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme.

Also present were the representative of the Executive Director of the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, Dr. Princess Aderemi Adebowale, Mrs. Adedeji Esther; the Coordinator of the “Snacks for Thought” programme, Mr. Bello Yusuf; and the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Mr. Opeyemi.

In his keynote address, the Executive Chairman of Oto Awori LCDA, Hon. Kareem Azeez Abiodun, described the initiative as a significant intervention under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at improving the welfare and educational performance of Nigerian children.

According to him, although the event was originally planned to accommodate parents and community leaders, adverse weather conditions necessitated a scaled-down ceremony.

He expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for placing children’s welfare at the centre of national policy through the revitalised National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme.

“We are grateful to a President who has made the welfare of every child a national priority. This programme is more than providing meals; it is an investment in the future of our children. A well-fed child learns better, concentrates longer and dreams bigger. When we remove hunger from the classroom, we unlock the enormous potential in every child,” he said.

The chairman also commended Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for aligning with the Federal Government’s initiative and applauded the introduction of the PBAT Feeds digital dashboard, which he said would ensure transparency, accountability and real-time monitoring of meal distribution across participating schools.

He appealed to corporate organisations, philanthropic foundations, faith-based organisations and well-meaning individuals to support the “Adopt A School” initiative by sponsoring nutritious snacks for public primary school pupils.

“This is an opportunity for everyone to key into the Renewed Hope Agenda by investing directly in the health and future of our children. Food security is national security, and every child deserves the opportunity to learn without hunger,” he stated.

Delivering the address of the Executive Director of the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, Dr. Princess Aderemi Adebowale, Mrs. Adedeji Esther described the launch as the beginning of a nationwide movement built on the principle that “Food Security Meets National Security.”

She explained that the initiative seeks to mobilise governments, private organisations, development partners, foundations and individual Nigerians to support public primary schools through nutritious snacks while leveraging technology to guarantee transparency and accountability.

“Today is more than the launch of a programme; it is the beginning of a movement. When a child goes to school hungry, learning suffers and human capital development is weakened. But when we nourish our children, we strengthen education, build productive citizens, grow the economy and secure Nigeria’s future,” she said.

She noted that through the digital “Adopt A School” dashboard, individuals and organisations would be able to directly support schools while monitoring the impact of their contributions.

According to her, even modest contributions can significantly improve children’s health, enhance classroom concentration and strengthen national development.

She stressed that government alone cannot meet the nutritional needs of every child, calling for increased collaboration among the public sector, private organisations, development partners and communities.

Following the formal ceremony, volunteers distributed nutritious snacks to the pupils.

The vote of thanks was delivered by Wale Koka, who thanked God for the successful launch and commended President Tinubu for initiating what he described as a people-oriented programme for school children across Nigeria.

He urged pupils to reciprocate the government’s investment by remaining focused on their education and avoiding social vices, while also appreciating the Oto Awori LCDA Chairman and his administration for supporting educational development within the council.

Speaking with journalists, Hon. Kareem Azeez Abiodun said the initiative was being implemented simultaneously across all the 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas in Lagos State.

He disclosed that beyond implementing the Federal Government’s programme, his administration would address pressing infrastructural needs identified during his visit to the school, including the provision of classrooms, desks and other educational facilities.

“What the President has started is a commendable initiative, and we intend to emulate it. Beyond this programme, we will continue to support our schools by addressing their immediate needs so that our children can learn in a conducive environment,” he said.

On the “Adopt A School” initiative, the chairman called on corporate bodies, philanthropists and individuals with the capacity to give back to society to support the programme.

“Giving to the needy is a responsibility encouraged by both the Holy Quran and the Bible. Government cannot do everything alone. We need the support of individuals and organisations to ensure this programme succeeds,” he said.

Responding to questions on whether the initiative was politically motivated, Abiodun maintained that the programme was purely humanitarian.

“The children benefiting from this programme belong to different backgrounds and families. We are not concerned about their political affiliations. What matters is that no child should study on an empty stomach. This intervention is about humanity and improving education,” he stated.

Also speaking, the Supervisor for Education and Library Services, Comrade Adeniyi Jelili, commended President Tinubu for initiating the programme, noting that hungry children cannot effectively learn.

He assured residents that the exercise, which commenced in Oto Awori, would continue across schools within the LCDA and expressed optimism that it would become a sustainable intervention.

Similarly, the House Committee Chairman on Education, Hon. Salami Bashir Akeyele, described the initiative as a welcome development for Nigeria’s educational sector.

He pledged the full support of the legislative arm of the council to ensure the programme’s continuity.

“The synergy between the executive and legislative arms of this council will guarantee the sustainability of this initiative. We are committed to giving the Chairman every necessary support to ensure its success,” he said.

The “Adopt A School: Snacks for Thought” initiative forms part of the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme’s broader strategy to improve child nutrition, encourage school attendance, enhance learning outcomes and foster stronger public-private collaboration in supporting basic education across Nigeria.