The Federal and Lagos State Governments yesterday flagged-off the Adopt-a-School: Snacks for Thought, PBAT FEEDS initiative to provide nutritious breakfast meals for primary school pupils and improve attendance, concentration and academic performance.

The programme, a public-private partnership under the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, was inaugurated at the Lagos Island East Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, described the initiative as a strategic investment in Nigerian children’s future, and reaffirmed Lagos’ commitment to partnering the federal government, corporate organisations and development partners on child welfare.

He said the children would also receive school bags, tablets, snack boxes, water bottles, flasks and notebooks under Lagos’s THEMES Plus Agenda.

National Programme Manager of the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, said Lagos was chosen for the inauguration, after pre-launches in Kano and Abuja, because of its leadership role.

She said the initiative would provide breakfast snacks and beverages before classes to tackle classroom hunger and improve learning outcomes, operating through a digital dashboard that would allow individuals, diaspora Nigerians, corporate bodies and philanthropists to adopt schools and sponsor meals.

Adebowale said the scheme complemented the Federal Government’s regular school feeding programme, and would ensure pupils arrived early, stay in school and perform better academically.

Chairman, Lagos Island East LCDA, Muibi Folawiyo, commended both governments for selecting the council to host the flag-off, urging banks, insurance firms, religious bodies and other corporate organisations to adopt schools in their communities as part of their corporate social responsibility.