Enugu Inaugurates Committee On Free Feeding In Schools

Enugu State Government
has inaugurated a steering committee for the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme.
The Deputy Governor, Mrs Cecelia Ezeilo, who inaugurated the committee, said the programme was targeted at pupils in primaries one to three in public schools.
Ezeilo said the state government considered it very important and timely as it was designed to fight hunger, increase school enrollment and ensure good health for the children.
“Enugu State is one of the 18 states selected to benefit from the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme.
“One free meal a day will be provided for each pupil in primaries one to three in public schools.
“We consider it very important as some children especially in rural communities go to school without breakfast. Some of them are grossly malnourished”, she said.
Ezeilo said such programme was not new to the state as it had earlier implemented one free meal a day.
“Shortly after our pilot programme, a delegation was sent to Abuja and Osun state to learn from their experiences as well as develop the best plan for the state.
“This was a clear indication of the resolve of the state government to adopt the best practices that will encourage education in the state”, she said.
She said the programme would have a multiplier effect in the state as the food would be sourced and prepared locally.