FG Engages Stakeholders to Relaunch National School Feeding Programme Estimated N900 Billion to N1 Trillion Needed Annually – Minister

Emmanuel Daudu

The Federal Government has taken a decisive step toward revamping the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) by convening a high-level stakeholders’ engagement focused on funding, implementation, and strategic partnerships under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The meeting, held at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, was led by the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Tanko Yusuf Sununu.

Addressing participants, Dr. Sununu estimated that between N900 billion and N1 trillion will be needed annually to feed pupils in grades 1 to 3 across Nigeria, with plans to deliver three nutritious meals weekly.

He stressed that while government appropriations remain critical, the programme’s scale and impact will depend on multi-source funding and strong collaboration among public and private stakeholders.

National Coordinator and CEO of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Associate Professor Badamasi Lawal, outlined key funding prospects including presidential support, international donor contributions, and 5% of recovered repatriated funds.

He urged stakeholders to contribute their technical expertise and strategic resources to strengthen the programme.

“As stakeholders, your contributions are essential in realizing the Sustainable Development Goals especially those focused on hunger eradication, quality education, and poverty alleviation,” Dr. Badamasi said. “This initiative speaks directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda offering inclusive, people-centered solutions to national challenges.”

Dr. Badamasi further noted that the revamped NHGSFP will enhance transparency, efficiency, and accountability while supporting smallholder farmers, boosting school attendance, and stimulating local economies through demand for locally sourced produce.

The event concluded with a presentation by the National Programme Manager, Dr. Princess Aderemi Adebowale, who unveiled the Enhanced NHGSFP Platform marking a fresh chapter for the programme’s scale-up and long-term sustainability.