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ActionAid calls for extension of school feeding programmes to all primary school pupils

Published

6 years ago

April 24, 2019

ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) has called on the Federal Government to extend the Home Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP) to all pupils of primary schools across the country.

Mrs Ene Obi, Country Director of the organisation said this at the Launch and Dissemination of the Third Party Monitoring Report of the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP).

AAN in partnership with the National Social Investment Office (NSIO) with support from DFID- Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn(PERL) and the Ford Foundation worked on the Third-party Monitoring on the implementation of the NSIP.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NSIP of the Federal Government falls within three groups: Home Grown School Feeding Programme, Government Economic Enterprise Programme and N-Power.

Obi said the extension should include pre-primary classes and classes 4 to 6.

She added that the Federal Government should also introduce additional incentives into the programme such as notebooks, school bags and stationery in addition to providing meals for school children.

According to the country director, the National Social Investment Office (NSIO) of the government should liaise with relevant ministries for the construction of additional classrooms.

She said since the home grown school feeding programmes had increased enrolment, there was need to provide more infrastructural development that comes with the constraints of the enrolment.

” The social investment Programme of the government has so far created a ripple effect towards the educational, agricultural and the health sectors of Nigeria.

“There was reported increase in the learning reception by school children as well as enrolment in schools because the home grown school feeding programme gives the students access to have one meal a day.

“Parents of these children also form part of the secondary beneficiaries under the programme as well as livelihood that has been created for cooks and food vendors.

She added that such benefits was also created for -Power Programme where unemployed Nigerians were engaged in different government institutions to receive stipends for their services.

She explained that this had further reduced the rate of unemployment within the period of N-Power implementation.
Obi also lauded the efforts of the government for the introduction and implementation of the social investment Programme in a bid to lift the vulnerable poor out of poverty the evading inequality in the society.

She said despite the positive outcomes the NSIP had provided, gaps had been identified which must be addressed urgently.

Obi noted that lack of community monitoring during implementation, grossly poor records tracking and management and lack of coordination among others were the challenges of the Programme.

She also noted that the issue of fund released was another major challenge hindering the growth of the Programme.

According to her, so far N 463 billion had been released out of the N 1.3 trillion expected to be spend for the Programme.

” In 2006, out of the N500 billion appropriated only N80 billion was released which is about 16 03 per cent. In 2017, of the N400billion appropriated, only N155 billion was released which is about 38.75 per cent.

“Also in 2018, N400 billion was appropriated for NSIP but about N228 billion was released which is 57.04 per cent.”

She, however, called on Nigerians to get involved not only as beneficiaries but also report any wrong doing against the programme for a maximum impact.

Obi, therefore, called for the institutionalisation of some of the National Investment Programmes that have been proven most impactful to ensure their continuity without being affected by change in government.

Meanwhile, Mrs Maryam Uwais, Senior Special Adviser to the President on Social Investment Programme, said the Federal Government is doing a lot of impact evaluation to know the narrative to engage the people.

Uwais said that currently, over 12 million Nigerians have benefited directly from the programmes with the empowerment of 500,000 graduates and 26, 000 indirect beneficiaries as well as a lot of households benefiting from the programme.

She said the release of the monies which is dependent on the income generated by the government on monthly basis sometimes get delayed and not sufficient for the numbers captured to benefit from the programmes.

She therefore said there was need for community engagement to make the process a wholesome empowerment project.

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Olawande’s 21st Century Skills initiative, A Move Towards Re-fertilization Of Nigerian Youths

Published

1 day ago

November 6, 2024

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

Transforming the Nigeria youths to equip the current and future generations with 21st century skills is important. The Africa and National Youth Day 2024 is therefore a historic moment to put a need 21st century skills at the forefront toward the the growth and development of all.

Nigeria as a nation has made meaningful progress in education over the past 60 years, with more girls in school and more students in Higher education system than ever before.

Reports showed that School completion rates have increased from 2000 to 2022 at all levels.

Still, these gains are insufficient to prepare Nigerians youth for the 21st century and its fast-changing professional landscape. By 2030, roughly 60 million jobs iin Nigeria and 230 million in Africa will demand digital skills. Classroom practices must shift to meet these future employability needs and nurture creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving.

Nigeria recorded the largest population of young people in the continent of Africa that means a 21st century skills is critical to to equip the current and future generations.

Based on this, Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande who has been promoter and advocate of digital skiill even before he became Minister has once again initiate digital literacy programmes, technical skills empowerment and leadership insight and urged young people to actively develop and adopt crucial 21st-century skills to effectively combat the rising issue of unemployment.

When he was Minister Youth for State, he introducing the Youth Development Fund to support young entrepreneurs, implementing the Youth Empowerment Program, training over 10,000 young people in vocational skills, establishing the Youth Mentorship Initiative, pairing young people with experienced professionals, and developing the National Youth Policy, providing a framework for youth development.

He also initiated the “One Youth One Ward” initiative to tackle drug abuse, established the Youth Innovation Hub, hosted the National Youth Conference, rolled out the Youth Volunteer Program, fostered partnerships with private sector organizations amongst others.

He has implement innovative programs, foster strategic partnerships, and demonstrated unwavering commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunities.

Now Minister of Youth without doubt has been at the forefront of this journey, demonstrating unwavering dedication to empowering Nigerians youth even from his school days.

Comrade Ayodele Olawande made this appeal today in Abuja during the Africa and National Youth Day Celebration with the theme : ‘ Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century’ and sub-theme: ‘Building a Resilient Education System: A New Hope for Nigerian Youth’,

He said such skills like critical thinking, digital literacy, and effective communications are essential tools for navigating the increasingly competitive job markets.

Olawande strongly advocated for the youth of Nigeria to prioritize the investment of their time and put efforts in developing a diverse range of essential skills and competencies by actively engaging in the pursuit that can significantly enhance their employability that will make them attractive candidates before their potential employers.

According to the Minister, “acquiring these skills will equip youth to confidently navigate the complexities and demands of an increasingly competitive job market, where adaptability and innovation are crucial. This proactive approach plays a vital role in addressing the rising unemployment crisis that has been affecting many young Nigerians today.”

“Through dedicated skill development, they can not only improve their job prospects but also lay the groundwork for sustainable career growth and success in the long run. In this rapidly evolving economic landscape, embracing continuous learning and professional development is not just beneficial; it is essential for achieving one’s career aspirations,” he explained.

The Minister further explained that the theme, “Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century,” serves as a powerful endorsement of the One Youth Two Skills initiative, adding that it will foster practical skills alongside formal education.

Olawande stated : “This initiative aims to empower youth and create sustainable employment opportunities. Ultimately, the initiative is a key component of the Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to eliminate unemployment and promote economic growth across the continent”.

In his paper presentation, Professor Ahmed Adamu, a lecturer at Nile University, Abuja, stated that by next year, 85 million jobs will be lost due to technological advancements, while 97 million new jobs are expected to be created.

Professor Adamu stressed that the future job market will heavily favour those individuals who proactively seek to acquire new skills and adapt to the evolving technological landscape.

Adamu said that for one to go far in whatever they are doing, they must be self-disciplined, duly intelligent and have the consistency in learning.

However, the minister of Youth led the teaming youths on a road walk from the Ministry to BMO Event Centre to Celebrate Africa and National Youth Day.

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