By Prosper Mene
Kaduna State’s school feeding programme is doing more than just feeding kids, it’s changing lives. The Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, backed by over N4 billion yearly, provides free daily meals to over 730,000 primary school children, while creating jobs for women and supporting local farmers.
Dr. Fauziya Buhari-Ado, the Governor’s aide leading the programme, was honored at the 2025 Humanitarian Bootcamp in Nairobi, Kenya. She praised Governor Uba Sani’s vision, saying, “This programme improves kids’ nutrition, keeps them in school, empowers women, and helps farmers earn more.”The meals, made with local crops like rice and beans, have boosted school attendance by up to 20% in some areas. Farmers benefit too, as the programme buys their produce, giving them a steady income. Over 7,000 women work as cooks and vendors, gaining skills and financial independence. Aisha Mohammed, a cook from Zaria, said, “This job helps me pay my kids’ school fees and start a small business.”Despite challenges like rising food prices and insecurity, the programme is a success, with plans to expand further. Community groups like the Kaduna Mothers for Accountability (KM4A) ensure transparency by monitoring meal quality and supplies.
Partnerships with organizations like ActionAid and the World Food Programme are helping to strengthen the initiative, with training for cooks and better supply chains.Looking forward, Kaduna aims to include more climate-smart crops and use digital tools to track supplies, ensuring the programme lasts. For many, the daily school meal is more than food, it’s a step toward breaking poverty’s cycle, empowering women, and building stronger communities across the state.
