Ekiti state Governor, Ayodele
Fayose, yesterday set aside political differences and declared the state’s
support for the federal government’s home grown school feeding programme.
Fayose, who made the declaration
in Ado Ekiti while declaring open a two-day stakeholders’ workshop for the
take-off of the programme, said he decided to support the programme because it
was in tandem with the state’s stomach infrastructure policy.
It would be recalled that at the
onset of the programme, Fayose had vowed that the state would not participate
in the programme saying it was being politicised and that it was a campaign
promise made by the APC during the presidential campaign which must be
fulfilled by the party.
The governor, who was represented
by the Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, however, said the state decided
to key into the programme following a feedback from government’s agencies that
studied the programme that the programme would be of immense benefit to the
people of the state.
He said, “The study revealed the
potentials of the programme to improve the nutrition status of the pupils,
increase schools’ enrollment and attendance, energize the local economy and
empower certain segments of the population.
Above all, we also noted that it
is in tandem with our stomach infrastructure policy.
“We have decided to set political
differences aside and partner with the federal government for the benefits of
our pupils. Our participation will be a boost to our efforts to restore the
glory of education in our dear state.”
The governor, while calling on
all stakeholders to ensure diligent implementation of the programme, also
promised that the state would give all the needed support to actualise “our
collective goal of feeding the pupils.”
The Team leader of the programme
from the Office of the President on National Home Grown School Feeding Programme,
Mrs. Abimbola Adesanmi, said the programme had been introduced in 21 states
adding that the programme would improve the health and nutrition of children as
well as improve the local production of agricultural products in the state.
“It is the plan of the federal
government that all states key into the programme for the benefit of all our
children in public primary schools.”
Attendees of the workshop include
officials from NGOs, Community Based Organisations, Farmers’ Congress and
representatives of Ministry of Agriculture among others.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayAdvertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
Baba Buhari, keep riding...Nigerians are with you...the chicken ,fayose has finally come home to roast..shame
ReplyDelete