The Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, in collaboration with TechnoServe Nigeria and other stakeholders, has launched a pilot initiative, “Snack for Thought”, to provide nutritious breakfast meals to pupils in public schools in Kano.

The programme was officially inaugurated at Magwan Special Primary School, they said in a statement on Tuesday.

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.

National Programme Manager of RH-NHGSFP, Dr Princess Adebowale, said the initiative represents a strategic step in strengthening the national school feeding programme.

“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,” Adebowale said.

Project Manager of TechnoServe Nigeria, Ava Bawa, highlighted the organisation’s role in supporting the government while promoting inclusive economic opportunities for local farmers and millers.

“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,” Bawa noted.

The launch event was attended by representatives from government ministries, education boards, private sector partners, and local millers, underscoring the Federal Government’s commitment to promoting food security, improved child nutrition, and sustainable partnerships to support broader development and education goals in Nigeria.

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.