Ayodele Olalere
The ‘Snacks for Thought’ feeding programme of the Lagos State government will cost N11 billion.
The programme, designed by the Governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu will complement the home-grown-school feeding programme of the Federal Government which cover pupils from Primary 1 to 3.
According to the Special Adviser on Civic Engagement, Aderemi Adebowale, the Lagos School feeding programme is expected to take care of pupils at the crèche and primary 4 to 6 levels, which the objective of ensuring that all pupils partake in the school feeding programme in the state.
“The programme will cost the government N11 billion but we are going to partner on this. We already have volunteers that will work with us; over 400 volunteers are ready to partake in it.
“Multiple indices indicators published by UNICEF in 2018, stated that 229,264 pupils are out of school in Lagos State. In order to curb this rising numbers, we need more than statutory allocations, ” Adebowale said on Monday at a media briefing to celebrate Governor Sanwo-Olu’s second year in office.
She added: “Interventions, such as these, will not only increase the rate of enrolment, but will impact positively on gender parity and equality, while also serving as a preventive security measure in reducing crime and hooliganism that may later disrupt the socio-economic life of the state.
“Snacks-For-Thought deals with children’s physical and cognitive development by focusing on enhancing their learning experience, which primarily starts with the child mental disposition.”
