Strategic
Implementation Plan for National Home-grown Feeding launched.
The
constitutional and philosophical underpinnings for the N500B Social Investment
Programmes of the Buhari presidency is a mandate without which the inalienable
right to life guaranteed Nigerians by the Constitution becomes meaningless.
Put
differently, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, unless government
invests significantly in getting people out of poverty, and address other
critical issues affecting children and other vulnerable groups, the inalienable
right to life provided for in the Nigerian Constitution is meaningless.
“It
is a victory for a point of view namely that the inalienable right to life
confirmed in the Nigerian Constitution is meaningless in a society where large
numbers are poor, if government does not invest significantly in getting people
out of poverty and address the health and education issues of children and
other vulnerable groups”.
Prof.
Osinbajo stated at the launching of the
strategic implementation plan of the first of its kind National Home-grown
School Feeding Programme, one of the 5 social investment schemes of the
presidency.
Addressing
a gathering of Governors, State Commissioners, representatives of international
donors and partners, top Federal Government officials and civil society groups
at the State House’s Banquet Hall, the Vice President said the Strategic Plan
sets out the partnership arrangement on how federal, state, and local
governments are to synergize towards achieving the primary objectives of the
School Feeding Programme.
He
noted that the plan will only work with the cooperation of Federal, State and
Local tiers of governments, while also emphasizing need for the buy-in of the
people. XXX Said he: “it is called ‘Home Grown School Feeding’ for the reason
that it must be owned by the people for whom it has been designed”.
Speaking
on the theme: “Stimulating Socio-Economic Growth Through The National Home
Grown School Feeding Programme” at the occasion, Vice President Osinbajo said
the Federal Government’s variant of the programme is not just a social welfare
scheme which gives handouts to the poor, but “a direct economic benefit to the
target groups and the economy as a whole”.
Vice
President revealed that the scheme would indeed bring real change to the lives
of over 20 million children nationwide, adding it would equally “create the
multiplier effect on the local economies in communities where these schools are
located by boosting agriculture, entrepreneurship and employment”.
Stating
four major benefits of the programme, he said it would: - improve school
enrolment and completion and cut current dropout rate estimated at 30% while
reducing child labour; - improve child nutrition and health; - increase local
agricultural production and; - will create jobs which would invariably lift
families over the poverty line into a bright future.
Vice
President Osinbajo who spoke about Federal Government’s responsibility to
part-fund the scheme stated that it has also secured technical support for the
scheme. He praised the development partners, financial institutions educational
institutions and civil society groups for their support and assistance.
Partnership
For Child Development (PCD), a programme of the UK's Imperial College, London,
was particularly commended by the VP, describing the Director of the PCD, Prof.
Leslie Drake, "a great friend of Nigeria."
The
Vice President while launching the implementation plan also presented the book
“Global School Feeding Sourcebook, Lessons from 14 Countries”, produced by the
PCD, adding that the book and the PCD has launched the nation into an
international school feeding ecosystem.Lessons from Nigeria is one of the
highlights drawn from the 14 countries reviewed in the book. He also formally
inaugurated the National Coordinating Team of the National Home-grown School
Feeding Programme at the event.
The
Governor of the State of Osun Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his Kaduna
State counterpart, Mallam Nasir El 'Rufai also made presentations on their
states' on-going school feeding programmes.
Similarly,
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and his counterpart from Borno, Kashim
Shettima joined the Vice President, the other governors, Prof Drake and the
Presidential Special Adviser on Social Investments, Mrs Maryam Uwais and
together they presented the book and the plan during the event.
‘Laolu
Akande
Senior
Special Assistant (Media & Publicity)
In
the Office of the Vice President
10th
June, 2016
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