Osun

Osun Govt Feeds Schoolchildren With N32m Daily – Alimi

BySodiq Lawal

PublishedJuly 4, 2025

The Osun State Government has disclosed that it spends over ₦32 million daily to provide meals for primary school pupils under its homegrown feeding initiative, known as O’Meals.

This was made known by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, in a statement issued on Wednesday, ahead of a high-level stakeholders’ conference convened to deliberate on the sustainability of the programme.

According to Alimi, the state government, through the Ministries of Education, Economic Planning, Budget and Development, and Federal Affairs, will be hosting the conference 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 gathering will bring together development partners and international agencies engaged in school feeding initiatives across Africa and beyond.

Alimi noted that Osun State has remained the only state in Nigeria to consistently implement a structured school feeding programme since its inception in 2006.

“This has positioned Osun as a model in the national conversation around food security, child nutrition, and access to basic education,” he said.

He further revealed that the O’Meals initiative directly benefits over 200,000 individuals daily, including pupils, food vendors, and local agricultural suppliers, thereby serving not only as a nutritional intervention but also as an economic stimulus at the grassroots level.

“The government’s consistent investment of over ₦32 million daily into the programme is a reflection of its unwavering commitment to reducing poverty, improving health outcomes, and enhancing learning capacity for children across the state,” Alimi stated.

The event is being organised in partnership with the African Union Development Agency – New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) and will attract notable global organisations including the Dangote Foundation, Family Health International (FHI360), the UN World Food Programme, Nutrition International, Partnership for Child Development, ActionAid Nigeria, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Key discussions at the conference will centre on sustaining and scaling school feeding schemes, exploring innovations, and aligning the O’Meals programme with broader global development targets such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those relating to zero hunger, quality education, and health.

Alimi stressed that the state government remains determined to ensure that no child is left behind.

“Through purposeful leadership and strategic partnerships, Osun continues to chart a progressive path in social investment and inclusive development,” he added.

Sodiq Lawal

Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.