FG Repositions School Feeding Programme, Projects N900 Billion to N1 Trillion Annual Budget

By Iyojo Ameh

In a renewed effort to improve child nutrition and educational outcomes across Nigeria, the Federal Government has engaged key stakeholders to discuss the relaunch and scale-up of the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (RH-NHGSFP).

The stakeholders’ meeting, held at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, was chaired by the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr.

During his remarks, Dr. Sununu projected that an annual budget of between N900 billion and N1 trillion would be required to effectively implement the programme, which targets the provision of three nutritious meals per week for primary school pupils in grades 1 to 3.

He emphasized the need for collaborative funding, noting that resources from federal allocations alone would be insufficient. “This programme is critical not just for nutrition, but for education and economic empowerment. We must look beyond traditional funding models to make it sustainable,” he stated.

The National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency, Associate Professor Badamasi Lawal, PhD, further outlined possible funding channels. These include presidential support, grants from development partners, stakeholder donations, and the allocation of 5% of repatriated public funds.

“As stakeholders, your expertise, strategic guidance, and financial support are crucial,” Prof. Lawal said. “Our goal is to forge a strong partnership that aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in tackling hunger, improving access to education, and reducing poverty.”

He reaffirmed that the RH-NHGSFP reflects the core values of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. “This programme is about more than just feeding—it’s a people-centered strategy to combat malnutrition, increase school attendance, support local farmers, and boost community economies,” he added.

In her presentation, the National Programme Manager, Dr. Princess Aderemi Adebowale, unveiled the Enhanced Platform of the NHGSFP, which aims to bring greater efficiency, accountability, and inclusiveness to the initiative. The platform marks the beginning of a refreshed approach, with technology and impact assessment tools built into the system to monitor and evaluate outcomes.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to reposition the programme as a national success model and a possible reference point for other countries seeking sustainable school feeding solutions.