In a significant development, over 400,000 pupils in Benue State are slated to benefit from the Federal Government’s school feeding program. This announcement was made by the state’s Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Aondowase Kunde, during a training session for Master Cooks of the National Home-grown School Feeding Programme in Makurdi.
Kunde revealed that more than 6,512 cooks would be required for the implementation of the program throughout the state. He further explained that all previous cooks had been disengaged to create opportunities for new participants, emphasizing that the Social Investment Programme is designed to reach all Nigerians.
“I believe that the gains of this exercise will ensure the delivery of safe and healthy meals to the over 400,000 pupils benefiting from the program in Benue State and also ensure a healthy and safe hygienic environment for our children,” stated Kunde.
He went on to urge the newly trained cooks to pay close attention to their training, as they would be responsible for passing on their knowledge to more than 6,512 colleagues.
Kunde clarified that the disengagement of former cooks was part of a broader reorganization of the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, designed to make the program accessible to a wider range of citizens, especially the poor and vulnerable.
“The Social Investment Programmes are designed to be spread to all Nigerians, particularly the poor and vulnerable within a specified duration of time,” he emphasized. “This implies that all our would-be-cooks will be persons who have not benefited from the program in the past.”
The commissioner also highlighted the transparency and openness of the cook recruitment process, which adhered to established guidelines as outlined in the Operational Manual of the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme.
The state facilitator, Mrs. Joy Ijuwo, underscored the broader goals of the National Social Investment Programme, which aims to uplift the living standards of children, youths, and women, and improve the lives of Nigerians living in extreme poverty.