Free School Feeding Drives 40% Of Kaduna Public School Enrolment – Gov’s Aide

The Kaduna State Government said about 40 per cent of pupils currently attending public schools are enrolled because of its free school feeding program, describing the initiative as a major tool for reducing the number of out-of-school children, especially Almajiri pupils.

The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Uba Sani on the School Feeding Program, Fauziya Buhari-Ado, made this known on Friday after receiving an Award of Excellence in Education Advancement from the Education Correspondents Association of Nigeria.

Buhari-Ado said the Uba Sani administration identified the need for urgent education reforms upon assuming office, with free education and school feeding at the center of efforts to tackle the out-of-school children crisis.

She noted that the prevalence of the Almajiri system and the impact of insecurity in northern Nigeria informed the government’s decision to strengthen programs to keep vulnerable children in school.

“Since we came into government, we understood that there were challenges, and we knew urgent reforms were necessary. Under the leadership of Governor Uba Sani, we implemented reforms that put the children of Kaduna State at the heart of government policies,” she said.

According to her, school monitoring visits have shown that the feeding program has become a strong incentive for enrolment and regular attendance.

“As we visit schools, principals and parents consistently tell us that many of these children would not be in school without the feeding program. I have seen this firsthand and heard directly from both the pupils and their parents.

“About 40 per cent of the children attending school are there because of the food,” she added.

Buhari-Ado credited the program’s success to Governor Sani’s leadership, saying it has improved school attendance, reduced absenteeism and enhanced the welfare of pupils across the state.

She also highlighted the administration’s investments in education infrastructure, teacher support, social protection programs and human capital development, describing them as essential to expanding access to quality education and improving learning outcomes.

The Kaduna State Government has prioritized addressing the out-of-school children crisis through initiatives including free basic education, improved school infrastructure and the school feeding program.

Education experts have long identified school feeding as an effective social protection measure that boosts enrolment, improves attendance, reduces hunger and eases the financial burden on low-income families.

In northern Nigeria, where poverty, insecurity and the Almajiri system continue to contribute to high rates of out-of-school children, school feeding is increasingly being used to attract children into formal education and encourage them to remain in school.