TechnoServe Nigeria, in collaboration with The Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (RH-NHGSFP) and other stakeholders, has launched a pilot initiative, “Snack for Thought”, to provide nutritious breakfast meals to pupils in public schools in Kano.
According to a statement by TechnoServe Nigeria, the programme was officially inaugurated at Magwan Special Primary School. The pilot scheme aims to complement the Federal Government’s forthcoming lunch feeding programme while improving child nutrition, school attendance, and learning outcomes across the state.
Through the initiative, TechnoServe supported the feeding of over 1,800 pupils across three pilot schools: Magwan Science Model Primary School, Race Course Science Model Primary School, and Ganduje Nomadic Primary School. The meals provided included Kunu Geda, a rice and groundnut drink, and Garau Garau, a rice and beans dish, both made from whole-grain brown rice.
According to TechnoServe, the meals are rich in fibre, vitamins, and essential minerals, designed to promote healthy growth, enhance brain development, and strengthen the overall impact of the national school feeding programme.
Dr Princess Adebowale, National Programme Manager of RH-NHGSFP, said the initiative represents a strategic step in strengthening the national school feeding programme.
Adebowale said, “Our goal is to strengthen the national school feeding programme by integrating nutrient-rich, locally sourced foods like brown rice into school menus. The collaboration reflects our commitment to improving the health and learning potential of Nigerian children.”
Ava Bawa, Project Manager of TechnoServe Nigeria, highlighted the organisation’s role in supporting the government while promoting inclusive economic opportunities for local farmers and millers.
Bawa noted, “TechnoServe is proud to support this effort by linking local processors and millers, whose capacities have been strengthened under our projects, to the school feeding programme. This partnership delivers nutritious, locally produced foods to children while creating inclusive economic opportunities for smallholder farmers and millers.”
The “Snack for Thought” initiative is expected to serve as a model for scaling nutritious breakfast programmes across other states, providing a foundation for healthier, better-fed, and more attentive pupils in public schools.
