ABIA GOVT UNVEILS FREE MEAL PROGRAMME FOR ALL PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS

(AbaCityBlog) ABIA has joined the league of states that adopted the free school meal initiative last Friday when it inaugurated the pilot phase of the project at a grand ceremony at Amapu Ntigha Community Primary School,Isiala Ngwa Local Government Area of the state. The launch of the laudable initiative of the wife of the Governor, Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu was preceded by the launch of the " Food Warehouse" another laudable initiative of Deaconess Ikpeazu at Government House, Umuahia. The warehouse will house the donations of the free school meal initiative and would be built in other senatorial districts of the state.

Gov Ikpeazu and Wife at Amapu Ntigha Primary
School ground, while initiating
the free meal programme

The project is operated by the Abia State Primary Schools Lunch Programme (APSLUP), which is a private/ public scheme supported by farmers and partners and the rationale of this programme is drawn from the World Health Organisation's standard which states that the average daily calorie requirement for boys and girls are 2500 calories. The programme is expected to provide 1080 calories at each meal which forms 43.2 percent and constitutes nearly half of the average daily calorie requirement. Rice beans and egg are components of the meal that will be served in schools and nutritional requirements for a growing child such as vitamin A, protein and iron are available in these components.

Gov Ikpeazu serving food to student | Credit: Abia Online

This project, which will ensure the feeding of pupils in 170 primary schools in the state three times a week, targets the poorest of the poor and children from indigent homes. The thrust of the project is to encourage these indigent children to remain in school.

Its mission is anchored on promoting midday meals in all public primary schools in the state and enhance the implementation of the Child's Right Act, which was domesticated by the Abia State House of Assembly recently. Also, the initiative will meet the basic nutritional needs of children and expand their opportunity to reach their full potential , and enhance the academic performance of children.

Though there have been opposing arguments against the project which proponents tend to justify with the current economic situation of the country, the benefits of this initiative are multifarious.The initiative will promote the nutrition of Abia children; achieve high academic performance in these children; and boost the agricultural economy of the state and thereby creating employment opportunities.

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