Headline: Federal Government Launches Feeding Scheme Targeting 20 Million Out-of-School and Vulnerable Children

The Federal Government has introduced the Alternate Education and Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Project, aiming to provide meals for 20 million out-of-school and underserved children by 2026.

The initiative was officially launched in Abuja on Tuesday by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda. He stated that the programme is being rolled out through the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (RH-NHGSFP), in partnership with the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education and the National Identity Management Commission.

Yilwatda highlighted the programme as one of the key components of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), introduced to mark President Bola Tinubu’s second year in office.

“At this crucial time, we must renew our commitment to providing inclusive, fair, and quality education especially for the millions of children who remain outside the formal education system,” Yilwatda said. “The Alternate Education Programme is a thoughtful and strategic response to one of Nigeria’s most pressing challenges: the growing number of children not attending school.”

He emphasized the government's belief that every child regardless of background or location deserves the opportunity to learn and thrive. The pilot phase of this initiative will be implemented in Karsana II, a nomadic community within the Federal Capital Territory.

Temporary classrooms have been set up for Primary One to Three pupils, along with a staff room and a solar-powered borehole to provide clean drinking water for the children and their families.

The education initiative will be paired with daily school meals provided under the NHGSFP, ensuring that each student receives a nutritious meal during school hours. According to Yilwatda, the combined approach is expected to increase school attendance, improve retention, and boost both mental and physical development.

“This is more than just an educational or feeding initiative. It’s a comprehensive, rights-focused strategy that delivers learning, nutrition, identity, and dignity to every Nigerian child,” he added.

Dr. Badamasi Lawal, National Coordinator and CEO of NSIPA, described the programme as an evolution from a school-based nutrition initiative into a broader policy tool for inclusion, national development, and resilience.

“With the Alternate Education Programme, we’re extending support to children in less conventional circumstances those living in informal settlements, displacement camps, and among almajiris,” Lawal stated. “This isn’t an act of charity. It’s about justice and deliberate governance.”

He added that the goal is to reintegrate out-of-school children into secure and nurturing educational environments, improve enrollment rates, and help students progress smoothly through the primary system and into secondary education.

Dr. Aderemi Adebowale, National Programme Manager for RH-NHGSFP, revealed that 200 almajiri children are currently being served in the Karsana pilot programme. She noted that the strategy includes outreach to children in border areas and informal communities, using a locally-driven model that combines education, nutrition, and identity registration.

Adebowale explained the collaborative roles: RH-NHGSFP oversees the feeding component, the Almajiri Commission handles educational delivery, and the National Identity Management Commission is in charge of verification and identification.

“We’re not just focusing on students already in school. Our expanded mission now includes children who are completely outside the formal system,” she said.

Also speaking at the launch, Dr. Nurudeen Zauro, Technical Adviser to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion, affirmed that inclusivity is a cornerstone of President Tinubu’s agenda. He noted that the feeding scheme ties into broader goals of financial and social inclusion under the “Renewed Hope” initiative.

Representing the Chairman of the House Committee on Poverty Alleviation, Deputy Chairman Alex Ikwechegh praised the programme as a sign of the government’s strong commitment to tackling poverty and pledged continued legislative support for its success.

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