The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to relaunch its national school feeding programme as part of a renewed effort to address rising hunger and educational disparities. The Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, made the announcement on Wednesday during a high-level meeting with development partners, non-governmental organisations, and government officials in Abuja.

Scheduled to coincide with President Bola Tinubu’s second anniversary in office, the revamped initiative aims to tackle child hunger, reduce malnutrition, enhance school enrolment, and support local agricultural communities through the provision of daily meals to public primary school pupils.

A Comprehensive Approach to Tackling Hunger and Boosting Learning

During his address, Dr. Sununu emphasized the programme’s broad and ambitious goals. By feeding schoolchildren in Primary One through Three with nutritious meals sourced from local farms, the government aims to not only improve children’s health but also strengthen rural economies and promote educational outcomes.

“The initiative aims to benefit 10 million children and could increase school enrolment by 20 per cent and academic performance by 15 per cent by 2025,” Sununu stated. He described the programme as a cornerstone of national development, promising to foster both human capital and community resilience.

He stressed the importance of transparency, accountability, and community participation, noting that these principles will be central to the programme’s implementation and long-term sustainability. As the country faces alarming projections that over 30 million Nigerians could face hunger, the relaunch is expected to play a crucial role in mitigating food insecurity nationwide.

Inclusive Design to Empower Women and Farmers

Beyond addressing hunger and education, the revamped programme has been structured as a comprehensive social empowerment strategy. Dr. Sununu called on communities, parents, and other stakeholders to take ownership of the programme, encouraging active involvement in planning, implementation, and monitoring.

He highlighted the role of cooks—especially women—and urged that they be properly trained to ensure both food safety and nutritional quality. According to the minister, the programme holds potential to economically empower women, youth, and smallholder farmers through local sourcing and job creation.

Development partners, such as the AMA Foundation and companies like Tetra Pak, have pledged support to ensure the initiative’s effectiveness and sustainability. Their involvement is part of a broader partnership drive, which the government believes is essential for delivering impact at scale.

Stronger Monitoring and New Technology to Ensure Accountability

Dr. Aderemi Adebowale, National Programme Manager of the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (RH-NHGSFP), described the initiative as an investment in the nation’s future. She said the redesigned programme is aimed at feeding more children while empowering women and youth through sustainable practices that have long-term benefits.

“A total of N100 billion has been allocated in the 2025 budget to scale up reach and deepen community impact,” she revealed. According to Adebowale, the updated programme will deliver daily meals to public school pupils, using ingredients sourced through women-led cooperatives and local farmers.

She emphasized that one of the major goals is to reduce rural poverty by 40 per cent. To achieve this, the government has introduced new technologies such as QR-coded supply chains and real-time tracking systems. These upgrades will improve transparency, ensure quality control, and allow for more accurate monitoring of food deliveries and programme outcomes.

“Nutritionists, health professionals, and supervisors will be deployed to monitor food quality, track health improvements in pupils, and assess the programme’s broader social impact,” she said.

Learning from Past Challenges

Between 2018 and 2022, Nigeria’s earlier version of the school feeding programme helped boost enrolment and improve nutritional outcomes. However, it struggled with supply chain inconsistencies, lack of transparency, and limited engagement of local farmers. The new version of the initiative has been redesigned to overcome these setbacks through stronger systems and community-based implementation models.

Adebowale also revealed that the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) will be involved to register and track beneficiaries, further increasing efficiency and accountability. She urged state governments, community leaders, and development agencies to unite in the national effort to secure the programme’s success.

Aligning with Global Goals

Dr. Badamasi Lawal, Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), called the relaunch a transformative moment in Nigeria’s fight against child hunger and inequality. Represented by Dr. Binta Musa, he said the relaunch provides an opportunity to align national policy with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those targeting hunger, education, gender equality, and poverty reduction.

Lawal urged all stakeholders to work collaboratively, stating that achieving a healthier and more equitable future for children demands shared responsibility. He described the initiative as “a bold investment in our children and a critical step toward building a resilient and inclusive society.”

A Unified Call to Action

As Nigeria prepares for the relaunch, officials reiterated that the success of the programme hinges on collaborative effort. From cooks and farmers to community leaders and international partners, everyone has a role to play in ensuring that the meals reach the right children, at the right time, and in the right quality.

With hunger levels on the rise and millions of children out of school, the renewed school feeding initiative represents both an urgent response and a long-term investment. It holds the potential to transform not just classrooms, but entire communities—bridging the gap between nutrition, education, and economic development.

By prioritizing local solutions, community involvement, and inclusive development, Nigeria aims to turn a basic human need—food—into a powerful tool for national progress.