By Levinus Nwabughiogu

ABUJA – Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday in Abuja stated that the federal government would not rely on importation of food items to implement its School feeding programme.

It will be recalled that the present government of All Progressives Congress, APC had during the presidential campaign last year promised to give a least one meal per day to school children.

Speaking while receiving a delegation of the World Food Programme, an agency of the United Nations, UN, led by its Executive Director, Ms. Ertharin Cousin, to the presidential villa, Abuja, the Vice President said the Home-Grown School Feeding will formula “energize the agriculture base in the state, so that the farmers can benefit.”

He also stated that the programme will also create jobs for farmers, caterers and other people within the entire value-chain.

He revealed that the Programme had already taken off in some state with results on the increased enrollment of pupils, also revealing that the federal government will partner the World Food Programme in the implementation of the feeding programmes.

According to him “it will be very helpful to look at your best practices, so that we are sure we are on course.”

Vice President Osinbajo emphasized the importance of such partnership because “nutrition is important for school children at that tender age”.

In her remarks, the leader of the delegation, Ertharin Cousin commended the efforts of the president Buhari administration in addressing the plight of internally displaced persons, IDPs, in the North East.

A statement by Mr. Laolu Akande, the Vice President media aide stated that Cousin also “disclosed that the UN agency was interested in partnering with the Federal Government in strengthening the school feeding programme as part of her organization’s contribution to education.”