In a bid to reduce the alarming number of out-of-school children, Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has launched a school feeding program targeting over 4,000 pupils across five local government areas.
The pilot phase, flagged off at Dan-Turai Primary School in Gusau, covers Gusau, Talata Mafara, Maru, Anka, and Shinkafi, with support from two non-governmental organisations. Governor Lawal symbolically shared a meal with pupils during the launch, highlighting his administration’s renewed commitment to inclusive education.
“School feeding is part of our emergency response to improve enrolment and combat child hunger,” the governor said, adding that insecurity, poverty, and limited access to education continue to keep many children, especially in rural areas, out of school.
Zamfara is among the states with the highest number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
In response, the state’s Ministry of Education, in partnership with UNICEF, has established a technical committee to identify affected children in all 14 local government areas and work towards reintegrating them into the education system.
FINPACT Development Foundation is currently feeding 1,000 pupils in four LGAs, while the International Center for Economic Development is supporting meals for 3,300 pupils in three LGAs.
Commissioner for Education, Wadatau Madawaki, described the programme as “a game-changer in the fight against child hunger and school dropouts.”
Governor Lawal appealed to donor agencies and development partners to expand their support.
“With sustained efforts and wider partnerships, we can significantly cut down the number of out-of-school children and make Zamfara a model for educational reform,” he said.
