Abuja, Nigeria – May 27, 2025
In a significant stride towards addressing the educational and nutritional challenges faced by millions of Nigerian children, the Federal Government has inaugurated the Alternate Education and Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme. This initiative aims to provide daily nutritious meals and foundational education to out-of-school and informal children, with a target of reaching 20 million children by 2026.
Program Overview
The programme is spearheaded by the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (RH-NHGSFP), in collaboration with the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOSE) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). It was launched on May 27, 2025, coinciding with Nigeria’s Children’s Day and marking the second anniversary of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, emphasized that this initiative is a response to the growing number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, describing it as a “holistic, rights-based intervention” that delivers education, nutrition, identity, and dignity to Nigerian children.
Pilot Implementation
The pilot phase of the programme is being conducted in Karsana II, a nomadic settlement in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Temporary learning centres have been established for Primary One to Three pupils, equipped with staff rooms and a solar-powered borehole to ensure access to clean water. The learning programme is integrated with the NHGSFP’s daily school meal service, ensuring that each child receives a nutritious meal every school day.
Collaborative Efforts
The National Programme Manager of RH-NHGSFP, Dr. Princess Aderemi Adebowale, highlighted that the programme underscores a renewed national resolve to reach Nigeria’s out-of-school children, including those living in border communities, informal settlements, nomadic groups, and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. She noted that the initiative integrates identity management, feeding, and foundational learning through an inclusive, community-led model.
Dr. Badamasi Lawal, National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), emphasized that the project, which began as a school-based nutrition intervention, has matured into a policy instrument for inclusion, human capital growth, and socio-economic resilience.
Strategic Goals
The overarching goal of the programme is to build a national framework for reintegrating out-of-school children into safe, structured, and nourishing learning environments. By 2026, the initiative aims to:
FedMin Info & Nat Orientation
Provide daily nutritious meals to 20 million children.
Improve school attendance and retention rates.
Enhance cognitive and physical development through integrated nutrition and education.
Promote inclusive education by reaching children in unconventional settings.
Call to Action
Minister Yilwatda called on stakeholders, including state governments, traditional institutions, religious leaders, civil society, the private sector, and international development partners, to rally around this initiative. He commended the collaborative efforts of NCAOSE, NIMC, parents, caregivers, and the children for their belief in the promise of education. He emphasized that investing in children is investing in the future, stating, “By equipping them with knowledge, nourishment, identity, and care today, we secure for Nigeria a generation of enlightened, empowered, and patriotic citizens.”
This programme marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s commitment to inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all children, regardless of their background, location, or social status.
For more information, visit the official website of the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme: https://www.nhgsfp.gov.ng/
