Lagos aims to feed 30,000 students daily through its school‑feeding program.

…Sanwo-Olu to Flag Off Initiative June 30

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

A free meal programme under the “Adopt a School Snacks for Thought” initiative is expected to benefit no fewer than 30,000 primary and secondary pupils in selected Lagos State schools each day.

The programme is funded by the Federal Government, the Lagos State Government, and the 57 local government and local council development areas of the state.

Dr. Aderemi Adebowale, Manager of the National Home‑Grown School Feeding Programme, announced the figures on Wednesday at an inter‑ministerial news conference about the “Adopt a School Snacks for Thought” (PBAT FEEDS) initiative in Alausa, Ikeja.

Attendees included Lagos State Commissioners Abisola Olusanya (Agriculture and Food Systems), Jamiu Alli‑Balogun (Basic and Secondary Education), and Gbenga Omotoso (Information and Strategy), along with other officials.

Governor Babajide Sanwo‑Olu is slated to launch the programme on June 30 in Lagos, the state chosen as the flagship for the initiative.

Adebowale noted that hunger continues to be a significant obstacle to learning and academic performance for schoolchildren.

“Research has consistently shown that hunger negatively impacts concentration, memory, cognitive development, school attendance, classroom participation and overall academic performance. A hungry child struggles to learn, and a child who struggles to learn is less likely to reach his or her full potential,” she said.

She explained that the initiative was conceived as an innovative public‑private‑community partnership aimed at supplying schoolchildren with nutritious morning snacks and drinks before classes begin.

She added that the programme aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda, the National Home‑Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), and broader human‑capital development objectives.

“The initiative complements existing efforts by ensuring that children receive nutritional support that enhances learning outcomes while creating opportunities for community participation and corporate social responsibility,” she said.

Adebowale said that individuals, corporate entities, philanthropists, faith‑based groups, alumni associations, community organisations, development partners, and governments can join via the PBAT FEEDS dashboard.

She stated that the programme’s vision is to create a Nigeria where no child is denied quality education due to hunger, and its mission is to mobilise stakeholders to collectively meet schoolchildren’s nutritional needs through a transparent, accountable, and scalable adoption model.

She emphasised that adequate nutrition is vital for children’s cognitive development and academic success.

“When children receive healthy snacks before learning, concentration improves, memory retention increases, classroom participation rises, attendance improves, learning