.jpeg "Monarch urges the implementation of a school feeding program in Delta for out-of-school children.")
The traditional chief made the announcement at the beginning of the pilot project for the Wendoo School Breakfast Empowerment Initiative (WSBEI) school feeding program at Ikeze and Ugboko elementary schools in Udumuju-Gboko.
He said that a free school lunch program would contribute in lowering the state's absentee population.
The king also mentioned the need to address the nation's declining educational standards.
He asserts that the WSBEI school feeding program has increased enrollment, attendance, and punctuality since students do not want to miss class again due to the quality of the meals they are provided.
"Their parents no longer purchase okpa, biscuits, or any other type of lunch for them while they are in school.
The monarch said, "It is a good way to make students stay in their classrooms and not move about during the school period."
He made an appeal to the state government, several ministries, businesses, and people to participate in a free school meal program.
In her introductory remarks, Maureen Bonds, founder and president of WSBEI, stated that the school feeding program began in February 2023 as a result of her bold actions to combat poverty's effects on children.
According to her, the concept was inspired by the need to address the rising number of children who are not attending school and to combat malnutrition among Nigerian children as a result of poverty and its associated effects on education.
"These were among of the main mandates WSBEI was set up to solve, among other challenges plaguing education, particularly dropout rates at the elementary school level and the need to improve nutrition among school children.
"The programs were created with a specific focus on vulnerable Nigerians in the youth and child population. The primary goal of WSBEI is to address the problems associated with childhood malnutrition, according to the speaker.
For maximum advantage, WSBEI provides one free nutritious lunch per week to 450 children in the schools, according to the country representative, Mr. Obiora Isichei.
He claims that by providing nutritious food, the gesture ensures that all school-age children will attend high school.
A long value chain is created when food is produced and acquired from local farmers and merchants, which aims to improve local economies in addition to improving student nutrition.
"We are interested in health as well as merely school breakfast. We currently feed around 450 kids on average each week, but as we expand the feeding process—likely in the next months—that number might rise.
"The program must be continued based on the impact of the program—children are being drawn to school, their health is being ensured, and the children of the poor and vulnerable are attending school," lsichie stated.