Governor Namadi Backs FG’s Plan to Revive School Feeding Programme
Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, has assured the Federal Government of his administration’s full support as preparations intensify to relaunch the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme.
The governor gave the assurance on Wednesday while receiving the Senior Special Assistant to the President on School Feeding, Dr. Yetunde Adeniji, alongside officials of the Abdullahi Mahmood Foundation (AMF), during a courtesy call at Government House, Dutse.
Governor Namadi described the programme as central to the Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that its benefits extend beyond the classroom.
“Not only does it help reduce the number of out-of-school children, but it also improves their nutrition. Beyond that, it has a strong economic impact wherever it is implemented—vendors benefit, farmers benefit, cooks benefit, and local communities are uplifted,” he said.
He noted that Jigawa has consistently gone beyond the national benchmark in implementing the scheme. While the federal government’s programme covered pupils in Primary 1 to 3, the state extended it to Primary 4 to 6.
“We have already included school feeding in our 2025 budget, and we will continue to make provision for it in the 2026 budget. Jigawa is ready to work closely with the federal government to revive this important programme,” the governor added.
In her remarks, Dr. Adeniji commended Governor Namadi’s commitment to education, assuring him that Jigawa would be among the first states to benefit when the scheme resumes. She also revealed plans to expand the initiative to vulnerable children in IDP camps, poor households, and Almajiri schools through partnerships with private organizations.
The Abdullahi Mahmood Foundation, represented at the meeting, announced that it would launch its 2025/2026 school feeding and uniform distribution programme in Malam Madori and Kaugama Local Government Areas. The foundation said the initiative, in collaboration with the presidency, aims to reach 200 schools and cover at least 30 percent of enrolled pupils in its first phase.
