4,300 Pupils to Benefit from Zamfara’s New Feeding Initiative

4,300 Pupils to Benefit from Zamfara’s New Feeding Initiative

ESTHER SALIFU , Abuja

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has officially launched the Zamfara State Pilot School Feeding Programme at Dan-Turai Primary School in Gusau, aiming to eliminate child hunger, boost school enrollment, and reduce the number of out-of-school children.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on School Feeding.

The programme, supported by key development partners including the World Bank, UNICEF, the International Center for Economic Development, and FINPACT Development Foundation, seeks to promote enrollment and retention of pupils in schools while fighting hunger and malnutrition.

Governor Lawal emphasized the programme’s significance, stating, “This program is not only about feeding children it’s about restoring dignity, improving access to education, and fighting poverty.”

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on School Feeding, Dr. Yetunde Adeniji, coordinated the programme’s implementation. She highlighted the collaborative effort, saying, “Together, we are ensuring that no child is left behind nourishing minds and bodies one plate at a time. This is what impact looks like. This is Renewed Hope in Action.”

The programme targets pupils across various local government areas in Zamfara State. Specifically, the International Center for Economic Development is sponsoring the feeding of 3,300 pupils in Gusau, Talatar Mafara, and Shinkafi, while FINPACT Development Foundation is supporting the feeding of 1,000 pupils in Gusau, Maru, Anka, and Talatar Mafara.

This initiative aligns with the state’s broader educational reforms, which include the recruitment of 2,000 qualified teachers and the renovation of over 400 schools across the 14 local government areas.