The Federal Government has projected an annual funding need of up to N1 trillion to support the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), a key component of its Renewed Hope initiative aimed at tackling child hunger and boosting primary school attendance.
This was revealed during a high-level stakeholders’ forum in Abuja, presided over by the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Tanko Yusuf Sununu. The meeting focused on plans to relaunch and broaden the reach of the school feeding program.
Dr. Sununu noted that providing meals to pupils in Primary 1 to 3, three times a week, would require sustained financial commitment in the range of N900 billion to N1 trillion annually. He highlighted the need for collaborative efforts in funding the program, saying government allocations alone would not be enough to meet its objectives.
He called on development partners, state actors, and private sector players to support the program financially, describing it as essential to addressing malnutrition, improving school attendance, and creating opportunities for small-scale farmers.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator and CEO of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Professor Badamasi Lawal, outlined possible funding sources, which include contributions from development partners, presidential approval, and the proposed allocation of 5 percent from repatriated public funds.
Professor Lawal stressed the importance of shared responsibility in driving the initiative, aligning it with the broader national goals of reducing poverty, expanding access to education, and tackling hunger across the country.
He said the Renewed Hope Home-Grown School Feeding Programme is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader plan to address social and economic challenges through people-focused programs.
Dr. Princess Aderemi Adebowale, who heads the program’s national operations, introduced an upgraded platform designed to strengthen transparency and improve monitoring. The system will deploy digital tools to track progress and ensure accountability across all levels of implementation.
The event closed with a renewed pledge by stakeholders to make the school feeding initiative a model of success and a reference point for similar programs across Africa.
