The Federal Government has launched "Snacks for Thought," a breakfast initiative under the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, aimed at improving learning by tackling classroom hunger, according to Vanguard. The scheme provides nutritious morning meals to pupils before lessons begin.
Breakfast First
The initiative was unveiled in Abuja by the National Programme Manager, Dr Aderemi Adebowale, who framed it as a step toward strengthening Nigeria's human capital foundation, the Vanguard report noted. An "Adopt-a-School" platform was launched alongside it, allowing government bodies, private companies and development partners to fund and expand the programme's reach.
A Market for Farmers
The government is working to expand the school feeding programme to close to 50 million primary pupils in 2026, with a meal costing between ₦500 and ₦1,000 per child, according to Nairametrics. The same report noted that ₦100 billion was allocated for the programme in the 2025 budget, and that the implementing agency aligns smallholder farmers, aggregators and supply chains to keep costs down. By sourcing meals locally, the scheme creates a steady market for farmers and processors.
Plugging the Leaks
The programme has faced criticism over weak implementation, including reports of ghost pupils and irregular vendor payments. Officials have said the new phase prioritises locally sourced food, job creation for cooks and farmers, and stricter monitoring, with the National Identity Management Commission integrated to ensure real pupils receive real meals, as TV360 Nigeria reported.
FoodPrices Nigeria tracks verified prices for grains, tubers and proteins across Lagos markets. A school feeding programme that buys from local farmers adds demand to the same supply chains that determine those prices.
#SchoolFeeding #Nutrition #SmallholderFarmers #Home-GrownSchoolFeeding #FoodSecurity #Lagos #FoodPrices #Nigeria #Agriculture #SocialInvestment