By Uchenna Eletuo
Mr Azeez Abiodun-Kareem, Chairman of Otto-Awori Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State, on Tuesday flagged off the “Adopt-A-School-Snacks for Thought” initiative for pupils in the area.
Speaking at the flag-off in L.A. Primary School, Otto-Awori, Abiodun-Kareem said the programme was in collaboration with the Federal Government, Lagos State Government, and the conference of the 57 councils in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the snack initiative is under the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme.
Designed as a public-private partnership, the initiative seeks to mobilise support from corporate organisations, development partners, philanthropists and other stakeholders to improve child nutrition, school attendance and academic performance while reducing the number of out-of-school children.
The chairman described the child as central to national policy, adding that the council would work with the federal and state governments to ensure the welfare of children in the area.
“A well fed child studies better, concentrates well and dreams bigger.
“For us, L.A. Primary School is our starting point. The feeding which will be sustained, will reach other schools in the council.
“When we take hunger out of the classroom, we unlock potential. That is why it is important to show our children that they do not learn on an empty stomach,” he said.
He described the initiative as thoughtful and well-tailored to revamping teaching and learning.
He also urged individuals and organisations to support the education system.
He pledged to sustain the programme in the area.
He also urged pupils to study hard and work toward self-actualisation.
Also speaking at the event, Dr Aderemi Adebowale, National Programme Manager for the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, said the initiative was child-centric.
Adebowale said the initiative was designed to improve the nutritional balance of Nigerian children to support cognitive development and effective learning.
The programme, attended by the council’s executives, community leaders and teachers, featured feeding and offering of the snack packs to the pupils.
The excited children expressed delight after the meal and called for the snacks feeding programme to continue daily, saying it was delicious. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Folasade Adeniran