FG DISTRIBUTES UTENSILS TO ANAMBRA SCHOOLS

REPORTER: KEVIN EKEDIEGWU

The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has distributed feeding utensils to public primary schools in Anambra State.

The Minister, Mrs. Sadiya Umar Farouq, presented the utensils to the state government at Udeozor Memorial Primary school, Awka.

The Minister, who was represented by the Director of Social Development, Mr. Taiwo Bashorun, explained that the utensils would further improve best hygiene practices and safety during consumption of meals by the pupils.

She said the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme was one of the four key interventions of the Federal Government under National Social Investment Programme (NSIP).

According to Mrs. Farouq, the aim is to promote inclusive and equitable learning opportunities, food security and employment thus reducing hunger and poverty in the country

The Minister explained that the donation came as a result of report indicating that the utensils were not adequate for pupils as some of them ate with their hands or unhygienic plates.

She pointed out that the Federal Government was responsible for the release of funds, guidelines, policies and monitoring, while the state government carried out the day-to-day implementation, including procurement of food items, selection of cooks and vendors.

Mrs. Farouq stated that the programme had recorded over nine million pupils enrollment with employment of over one hundred thousand cooks across the country.

Responding, Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, represented by the Head of Service, Mrs. Theodora Igwegbe, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for addressing the problem of nutrition among pupils.

In a remark, the State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Miss Chiamaka Nnake, assured the Federal Government of their continued support for the success of the programme.

Miss Nnake also promised that the feeding utensils would be properly utilised and maintained as well as distributed to primary schools in the twenty one local government areas of the state.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU