By NAN
The National Home Feeding programme that will start on Monday in all public primary schools in Oyo State will reduce hunger among its would-be 158, 450 beneficiaries, especially, the indigent pupils among them.
A cross section of parents stated this on Saturday when commenting on the likely advantage to be derived from the programme when it eventually commenced in the state.
The News agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the school feeding programme is a Federal Government Initiative as part of the Social Investment Plans of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
The parents and guardians who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Ayegunle, Badeku and Adegbayi, all in Egbeda Local Government, lauded the state government for its commitment to commence the programme.
Mrs Eunice Akintolu, a trader at Fashade Plank Market at Egbeda, said that the programme was long overdue in the state.
“We have been expecting its commencement since the last administration because our neighbouring state- Osun state, was into the programme then.
“We are aware of the impact of the free meal programme to pupils in Osun and how parents were relieved from how they used to struggle to provide launch meal for their children in public primary schools.
“Pupils in Oyo State public schools too will,henceforth, enjoy the free meal and those children that come to school in empty stomachs will no longer be hungry,“ she said.
Another respondent, Mr Jide Adebisi, a farmer at Ayegunle village, said the programme would save him N750.00 weekly, which he had been spending on three pupils in a public primary school at Egbeda.
“I used to give them N150 on daily basis for lunch but I can now use the money for other purpose since government will be feeding them in school.
“I commend the APC government for the wonderful programme and urge it to continue embarking on schemes that have direct impact on the masses.“ Adebisi said.
A teacher in one of the public primary schools at Olode-Adegbayi, who pleaded not to be named, told NAN that the programme would reduce hunger among indigent pupils.
She said her experience as a teacher had made her to know that some indigent pupils used to come to school without eating.
“We teachers even buy food for some of them when we see them crying as a result of hunger.
“To me, the commencement of the free meal programme in schools is the best among other schemes embarked upon by the government,“ she said.
NAN reports that the Government of Oyo State unveiled the school feeding programme on Jan 27, with the disbursement of over N70 million for its commencement.
It is expected that 158,450 pupils in public primary schools across the 33 local government areas of the state will benefit from the programme.
It will also provide job opportunities for 2,578 cooks.
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