The Osun State Government has disclosed that it spends over ₦32 million daily on its Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, popularly known as O’Meals.
This revelation was made by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. Kolapo Alimi, in a statement issued on Thursday. He said the initiative remains a cornerstone of the state’s child nutrition and economic empowerment strategies.
Alimi announced that a high-level stakeholders’ conference, aimed at fostering the sustainability of the programme, has been scheduled to be held on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at the NAF Conference Centre in Abuja.
Themed “Sustainability of O’Meals for Improved Child Nutrition in Osun State,” the conference is being organised by the state government through its Ministries of Education, Economic Planning, Budget and Development, and Federal Affairs.
According to the Commissioner, the conference is expected to attract major development partners and international agencies working in the area of school feeding across Africa and beyond.
“This significant conference aims to strengthen dialogue around the future of school feeding in sub-national contexts, with a particular focus on the unique case of Osun State,” Alimi said.
He noted that Osun remains the only state in Nigeria that has consistently run a structured school feeding programme since 2006, adding that O’Meals has become a national model in the areas of food security, nutrition, and educational development.
Speaking on the programme’s impact, Alimi said the daily ₦32 million expenditure caters for over 200,000 direct beneficiaries, including pupils, food vendors, and local suppliers, making it not just a nutrition scheme but also an economic empowerment initiative.
“The O’Meals programme is a critical tool for child welfare and poverty reduction. Osun State’s commitment has earned commendation from international agencies and development partners for its unwavering dedication to child nutrition and inclusive development,” he stated.
The conference, organised in collaboration with the African Union Development Agency – New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD), will feature top global development agencies and stakeholders including the Dangote Foundation, Family Health International (FHI360), United Nations World Food Programme, Nutrition International, Partnership for Child Development, ActionAid Nigeria, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
According to Alimi, the conference aims to assess the sustainability of the O’Meals initiative, identify best practices, explore innovative strategies for improving child nutrition, and expand partnerships to deepen the programme’s reach and effectiveness.
He stressed that the event will serve as a platform for policymakers, technical experts, and donor organisations to align the O’Meals scheme with global development frameworks, particularly the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on zero hunger, quality education, and good health and well-being.
“The Osun State Government remains committed to ensuring no child is left behind. Through strategic partnerships and purposeful leadership, Osun continues to set a national precedent for inclusive and sustainable development in education and nutrition,” Alimi concluded.
Source: Hope Newspapers