The African Union (AU), says no fewer than 65.4 million children in 51 countries now benefit from School Feeding in Africa, with Nigeria standing out in implementation of the programme.
Project Manager for Nutrition and Food Safety, Africa Union Development Agency-New partnership for African development (AUDA-NEPAD), Ms Kefilwe Moalosi, said this in a statement on Sunday, in Abuja.
Moalosi, who spoke during a school feeding stakeholders’ strategic meeting, themed: “Encouraging State Driven Implementation and Best Practices for School Feeding Towards Local Agricultural Value Chain, Community Engagement and Economic Development”, called on other African countries to emulate Nigeria.
She specifically called on Africa’s leadership to follow Nigeria’s example in transitioning the school feeding programme from a Federal Government-led initiative to states governments’ project.
“Recent disruptions to African economies add traction to the movement and the need to think local, especially in a continent where farming remains a top source of income and jobs, particularly for women.
“By working together, we can leverage on our collective expertise and resources to develop comprehensive programmes that address the multifaceted needs of our children,” she said.
The project manager e explained that from nutrition and health, to education and economic empowerment, funding for school meal programmes coming directly from governments could vary widely.
She noted that though investing in home-grown school feeding programmes was not without its challenges; its rewards far outweighed the costs.
Moalosi reaffirmed the AU’s commitment to the well-being of African children, and the prosperity of its communities, saying in unity, a brighter future for generations to come could be built.
“We will only reach our goal to zero hunger if we all walk together, we have to run together towards our goal,” she stressed.
She thanked the Nigerian Government for collaborating with AUDA-NEPAD, to domesticate the continental school feeding guidelines through the engagement of school feeding implementers, especially at the community level, to contribute to the food and nutrition security outcomes.
(NAN)
