The Chairman of the Niger State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB), Malam Muhammad Baba Ibrahim, has appealed to parents and teachers to exercise patience as the suspended school feeding program is set to resume soon.
During a school enrolment campaign visit to Lavun, Edati, and Mokwa local government areas, the chairman addressed concerns raised by parents and teachers regarding the suspension of the school feeding program. He acknowledged that the program had significantly encouraged school attendance, and its suspension had led to a noticeable drop in student numbers.
Parents and teachers urged the government, through NSUBEB, to reinstate the program, emphasising its role in motivating children to attend school.
Malam Ibrahim clarified that the school feeding program was a federal initiative launched by the previous administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. The current administration temporarily suspended the program to review and improve it. He assured that a federal team had already visited the state to assess the schools involved and those proposed for inclusion, indicating that the program would soon resume with additional schools in Niger State.
In Edati, the local government chairman, Hon. Yisa Sunday Daniel, highlighted the council's commitment to education. He expressed optimism that the stakeholders' engagement by NSUBEB would significantly boost school enrolment in the area.
Hon. Daniel also stressed the importance of teacher training, retraining, and welfare as key factors in enhancing their commitment. He noted that recognising and motivating distinguished teachers would inspire others to follow suit.
The school enrolment campaign team included NSUBEB board members, staff, AGILE representatives, and officials from the state Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.