4,000 Pupils to Benefit as Zamfara Flags Off School Feeding Scheme

Governor Dauda Lawal has launched a school feeding programme targeting over 4,000 pupils across Zamfara State to tackle the rising number of out-of-school children. Flagged off at Dan-Turai Primary School in Gusau, the pilot phase covers five local government areas, Gusau, Talata Mafara, Maru, Anka, and Shinkafi, with support from two non-governmental organisations. Lawal shared […]

Governor Dauda Lawal has launched a school feeding programme targeting over 4,000 pupils across Zamfara State to tackle the rising number of out-of-school children.

Flagged off at Dan-Turai Primary School in Gusau, the pilot phase covers five local government areas, Gusau, Talata Mafara, Maru, Anka, and Shinkafi, with support from two non-governmental organisations.

Lawal shared a symbolic meal with pupils at the event, reinforcing what he called a renewed focus on inclusive education.

Zamfara remains one of the states with the highest number of out-of-school children in Nigeria. Insecurity, poverty, and poor access to education continue to drive the crisis, especially in rural areas.

“This initiative is part of our emergency response to boost school enrollment and fight hunger,” Lawal said.

He added that the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with UNICEF, had set up a technical committee to identify out-of-school children in all 14 LGAs and facilitate their return to school.

While FINPACT Development Foundation is feeding 1,000 pupils in four LGAs, the International Center for Economic Development is supporting 3,300 pupils in three LGAs.

Commissioner for Education, Wadatau Madawaki, described the initiative as “a game-changer in the fight against child hunger and school dropouts.”

Lawal called on donor agencies and development partners to scale up support.

“With more programmes like this, we can drastically reduce the number of children out of school and make Zamfara a model for others,” he said.