The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to improving child nutrition and strengthening food security through school feeding initiatives that prioritise diverse, nutritious and locally sourced foods.

The commitment was reiterated on Monday, October 12, at a programme titled Scale-Up Feeding for All Pupils with Varieties of Locally Sourced Nutritious Food, held at Blessed Obrown Hotel in Suleja, Niger State.

The event was organised under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction as part of efforts to tackle malnutrition, reduce poverty and improve access to nutritious meals for vulnerable children.

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Olubunmi Olusanya, the Deputy Director of the Nutrition Department, Mrs Mfawa Tom Usaini, said adequate nutrition was essential to children’s physical growth, cognitive development, learning capacity and overall wellbeing.

He noted that the initiative reflected the Federal Government’s determination to address hunger and malnutrition, particularly among children from vulnerable and economically disadvantaged households.

According to the Ministry, prioritising locally sourced foods would improve the quality and variety of meals served to pupils while creating economic opportunities for farmers, food producers, women and other participants in the food value chain.

Olusanya highlighted Nigeria’s wide range of nutritious foods, including cereals, legumes, vegetables, fruits, roots, tubers and animal-source foods, noting that their proper combination and preparation could provide essential nutrients for healthy childhood development.

“We believe that investment in child nutrition is an investment in Nigeria’s human capital and in the future productivity of our nation,” he said.

He added that the Ministry would continue to support interventions that address the immediate food and nutrition needs of vulnerable populations while promoting long-term poverty reduction and resilience.

The Permanent Secretary commended the Niger State Government, development partners, community leaders, food suppliers and other stakeholders for supporting the initiative. He urged participants to take ownership of the programme and work towards its effective implementation, sustainability and expansion to reach more vulnerable households.

He also reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with state governments and development partners to advance food and nutrition security.

In her closing remarks, Usaini, represented by Assistant Director Ibrahim Dantani Mohammed, emphasised that access to nutritious meals was vital to improving school attendance, concentration, learning outcomes and children’s long-term health and productivity.

Mohammed said the programme demonstrated the connection between nutrition education, agriculture, poverty reduction and local economic development.

He noted that sourcing food locally could promote dietary diversity, support farmers, strengthen local food systems and create livelihood opportunities for vulnerable households.

He encouraged stakeholders to promote nutrition education in schools, homes and communities to ensure that the benefits extended beyond the programme.

On behalf of the Nutrition Department, he thanked the Niger State Government, participating ministries, departments and agencies, development partners, traditional and community leaders, parents, food vendors, farmers and other stakeholders for their contributions.

The programme’s highlight was a training session for women on preparing nutritious meals for their children.

Participants expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for the initiative and called for more engagements that would benefit their families.

The Ministry reiterated the importance of sustained collaboration in ensuring that every Nigerian child, regardless of socioeconomic background, has access to safe, adequate, diverse and nutritious food.