Category: Society & Lifestyle

The Special Assistant to the Kaduna State Governor on School Feeding Programme, Dr Fauziya Buhari-Ado, says the scheme has continued to empower women employed as cooks and supports local farmers.

She also called for stronger humanitarian leadership and strategic partnerships to combat hunger and promote sustainable economic transformation across Africa.

Dr. Fauziya, who made the call while receiving the 2025 4th Humanitarian Bootcamp Award in Nairobi, Kenya, according to a statement she personally signed and released on Friday morning.

In her presentation, titled “Feeding the Future: Leveraging Humanitarian Leadership to Achieve Food Security and Economic Transformation in Africa,” Dr. Buhari-Ado expressed profound appreciation to Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, for his vision, trust, and leadership in championing the Kaduna State School Feeding Programme, a flagship social intervention that provides daily meals to thousands of schoolchildren across the state.

“Governor Uba Sani’s confidence in my capacity to serve has made it possible to impact the lives of children across Kaduna State,” she stated. “Under his leadership, the School Feeding Programme has become a model of inclusive development — improving nutrition, boosting school attendance, empowering women, and supporting local farmers.”

She described the initiative as a holistic approach that strengthens multiple sectors of the economy, noting that every meal served goes beyond nourishment to symbolise hope, care, and opportunity for the next generation.

“Each meal we provide is not just food; it is a bridge to learning, a shield against poverty, and a promise that we see these children, we care for them, and we will not abandon them,” Dr. Buhari-Ado said. “Feeding our children is not charity — it is nation-building.”

She further stressed that food security must be viewed as a strategic pillar of Africa’s social and economic development, adding that eradicating hunger is essential to ensuring stability, productivity, and peace across the continent.

Dr. Buhari-Ado also paid tribute to outstanding women leaders who have played pivotal roles in advancing humanitarian and leadership development across Africa. She commended Dr. Martina Nentawe Yilwatda, Patron of the Women’s Leadership Network, for her foresight and mentorship, and Mrs. Deborah Hornecker, the Network’s founder, for her resilience and commitment to women’s empowerment.

“The Women’s Leadership Network represents a powerful platform for collaboration and transformation,” she noted. “It brings together professional women from diverse sectors to drive inclusion, social impact, and leadership development across communities.”

In her closing remarks, Dr. Buhari-Ado urged governments, development partners, civil society organizations, and the private sector to work collectively to end hunger in Africa.

“When the day comes that no African child — and no African adult — goes to bed hungry, we will know that we have truly fed the future — not through power, but through humanity, compassion, and love,” she concluded.

The school feeding programme in Kaduna state is funded annually with over N4bn, according to data by the state government.

The state also noted that it feeds over 730,000 pupils and has over 7,000 cooks employed to prepare meals in a total of 3,400 schools.

The scheme aims to increase enrollment, support the local economy, and improve the nutrition of pupils.

Similarly, on October 3, 2025, President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to reducing child malnutrition and improving school enrolment through the Renewed Hope Mo’Feed Project, a school feeding and empowerment initiative designed to reach over 600,000 vulnerable Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on School Feeding, Dr. Yetunde Adeniji, who represented the President, said this at the official launch of the project in Lagos.

She said the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda by tackling food insecurity, poverty, and gaps in education.

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark World Mental Health Day, international medical organisation, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières has drawn attention to the hidden mental health impact of child malnutrition across northern Nigeria, calling for an integrated approach that treats both body and mind.

According to MSF, the burden of malnutrition in the region has reached alarming levels. In 2024 alone, over 300,000 malnourished children were treated in the organisation’s facilities across Zamfara, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Bauchi, Borno, and Sokoto states — a 25 per cent increase from the previous year.

Beyond the visible physical toll, MSF says malnutrition leaves deep psychological scars on children and their caregivers.

“Malnutrition doesn’t just affect the child physically,” explained Kauna Hope Bako, MSF’s Mental Health Supervisor in Bauchi.

“It has psychological, emotional, and behavioural implications”, he added.

Bako noted that malnourished children often become irritable, withdrawn, or unresponsive, struggling to meet developmental milestones such as walking and talking.

“The child feels detached, sad that he cannot play like others. He’s in pain—not just from hunger, but from the infections that come with it,” she added.

The link between malnutrition and mental health, according to MSF, is two-way. Emotional neglect, stress, or abuse can contribute to malnutrition, while poor nutrition can, in turn, worsen psychological distress. “They’re two sides of the same coin,” Bako said.

To tackle this, MSF has introduced mental health support in its 12 inpatient and over 30 outpatient feeding centres across northern Nigeria. Each centre features a playroom where daily mental health sessions are held for children and their caregivers. These include psycho-stimulation therapy, stress management training, support groups, recreational sessions, and individual counselling.

Recognising that caregivers also bear a heavy emotional burden, Bako said:

“If the mother is not able to manage her own stress, it may unconsciously spill over to the child. That’s why we also care for caregivers.”

MSF has also begun training all its medical staff—doctors, nurses, and support workers—in psychological first aid and effective communication.

“Communication is sometimes treatment,” Bako observed. “When the mother feels listened to, and the child feels safe, healing has already begun.”

Between January and June 2025, MSF admitted 32,940 severely malnourished children to inpatient centres and 136,255 to outpatient centres in northern Nigeria. During the same period, its teams conducted 30,880 mental health sessions.

In Bauchi alone, over 113,000 children and caregivers have received psychological support since 2024.

Bako said the integrated approach has shown encouraging results, including faster recovery and stronger emotional resilience among families.

She said, “It’s not just about treating the disease.

“It’s about restoring hope, dignity, and the bond that helps families heal.”

As MSF marks World Mental Health Day 2025, the organisation reaffirmed its commitment to providing holistic care to vulnerable families in crisis-affected regions.

“Every child deserves not just to survive, but to thrive—body and mind,” MSF stated.

The Lagos State Government has begun activities to mark the 2025 World Food Day with a call for stronger partnerships to promote food security and sustainable agriculture in the state.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, made the call during a news conference at Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday.

According to the World Food Programme, 30.6 million Nigerians are facing acute food insecurity, as 37% live below the poverty line nationwide.

Olusanya said that this year’s theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,” highlighted the need for collaboration among governments, private sector players and development partners.

She also highlighted the need for communities to collaborate in building resilient food systems.

She said that Lagos, despite its small land size, had continued to face the challenge of feeding a population of over 22 million people, making innovation and partnerships vital for sustainable food production.

“Feeding our people requires innovative strategies, bold investments and strong partnerships.

“We are implementing our five-year Agricultural and Food Systems Roadmap to achieve 40 per cent food self-sufficiency by 2025,” she said.

The commissioner noted that the World Food Day celebration served as a reminder of the need for collective action to end hunger and malnutrition.

She listed activities lined up for the 2025 celebration to include a road walk sensitisation on Wednesday, October 8; the Lagos Agric. Scholars Quiz Competition on October 14, and the Grand Finale and Farmers’ Fair on October 16.

Olusanya commended the ministry’s partners, including British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation, Origin Tech Group, Zenith Bank, Tropical General Investments Group, Olam Nigeria and Providus Bank, for their continued support.

She officially flagged off the celebration and urged residents to join the ministry in creating awareness about sustainable food production.

“World Food Day is not just a celebration; it is a call to action. Together, we can build a food-secure Lagos and ensure a better future for all,” she said.

Celebrated annually on October 16, World Food Day serves as a global platform to spotlight collective actions and progress in building sustainable food systems.

Children who are fed only one meal a day due to economic hardship are at risk of malnutrition, weakened immunity, poor brain development, stunted growth, and low academic performance, paediatricians have warned.

They noted that poor feeding could also affect children’s mood, behaviour, and concentration, ultimately impacting their academic performance.

The child experts stressed that while adults may sometimes cope with a single balanced meal daily, the same cannot be said for children whose bodies and brains are still developing and therefore need multiple meals and snacks rich in nutrients.

They urged parents and caregivers to ensure children are fed with the age-appropriate nutrients and food quantity.

PUNCH Healthwise earlier reported the inability of parents to feed their children the age-appropriate, nutritious food and quantity, leading to fear of the rise in undernourished children.

The surge in meal skipping and reduced food frequency is linked to households adopting extreme coping strategies to stretch scarce resources.

PUNCH Healthwise also reported that the economic situation, which has led to rising food prices and stagnant incomes, has forced them to skip meals or reduce the number of meals per day.

Nutritionists have also warned of the increasing rate of children going to school on empty stomachs due to the inability of parents to provide enough meals.

Consequently, the Paediatric Association of Nigeria has stated that over 11 million children in Nigeria are suffering from food poverty, while over two million are already classified as malnourished.

Commenting on the matter, a professor of Paediatrics at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto State, Ben Onankpa, explained that while adults may survive on one balanced meal daily, children require more frequent nutrition to support growth and brain development.

He mentioned that when children eat just once a day, the likelihood of severe malnutrition increases significantly, noting that malnutrition in early life causes physical stunting, also known as linear growth failure.

“A child who eats once daily has the possibility of severe malnutrition. This leads to poor growth and poor learning in school. Severe malnutrition early in life affects the child’s potential in ways that remain visible, even into adulthood,” he said.

The paediatrician explained that the effects of early-life malnutrition have been linked to increased risks of health conditions later in life, such as diabetes and poor immunity.

“Even if a malnourished child grows up to become successful, the effects will still be there. Severe malnutrition in infancy can cause lasting consequences such as small stature and poor health,” Onankpa said.

The paediatrician urged parents to ensure their children regularly eat more than one balanced and nutritious meal every day.

“The key is a balanced diet and consistency. In the first six months of life, feeding should be on demand, between eight and 12 times a day. Between six and 12 months, additional meals such as snacks should be given two to three times daily,” he advised.

Onankpa also stressed that as children grow older, they should be transitioned into regular and structured meal patterns.

“From around one year, children should have the three main meals, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, together with healthy snacks,” he explained.

A paediatrician, Dr Olufemi Akodu, emphasised that children need proper nutrition for growth and development, noting that eating one meal a day can lead to malnutrition and deficiencies, fatigue, low energy, and poor concentration.

He noted that such children face weakened immunity, poor cognitive development, declining school performance, and a higher likelihood of health complications.

On the recommended feeding pattern for children, the paediatrician explained that the number of meals depends on the child’s age, activity level, and health needs.

“For infants aged 0 to 12 months, feeding should be 3–4 main meals and 2–3 snacks, spaced out every 2–3 hours. Toddlers between 1 and 2 years should eat three main meals and 2–3 snacks daily, with a focus on nutrient–dense foods. Preschoolers aged 3–5 years require three meals and 1–2 snacks with an emphasis on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats,” he stated.

“School-age children between 6 and 12 years need three main meals and 1–2 snacks, with a balanced diet that includes a variety of food groups, while teenagers, 13 years plus, require three meals and 1–2 snacks, with a focus on nutrient-dense foods to support growth and development,” Akodu added.

The paediatrician advised parents to play an active role in ensuring that children eat the right number of meals daily by creating a structured meal routine and encouraging healthy eating habits at home.

He urged parents to “lead by example: show kids healthy eating habits by modelling balanced meals and snacks. Create a positive mealtime environment: Make mealtime enjoyable, relaxed, and free from distractions. Offer a variety of foods: Expose kids to different food groups, flavours, and textures. Establish a routine: Encourage regular meal and snack times. Involve kids in meal planning: Let them help with grocery shopping or meal prep.”

To encourage adequate nutrition, Akodu advised parents to “make healthy options accessible: Keep fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins readily available. Limit unhealthy snacks: Restrict sugary drinks, fast food, and processed snacks. Be patient and consistent: It can take time for kids to develop healthy eating habits. Offer choices: Allow kids to choose between healthy options, promoting autonomy. Monitor portion sizes: Ensure kids are eating appropriate amounts.”

The doctor urged parents to make mealtime interactive by engaging kids in conversations and encouraging socialisation.

“Avoid forcing food: Don’t force kids to eat specific foods, as this can create negative associations. Be mindful of hunger and fullness cues: Encourage kids to listen to their bodies,” Akodu asserted.