The Special Assistant to the Kaduna State Governor on the School Feeding Programme, Dr. Fauziya Buhari-Ado, has highlighted the significant impact of the initiative in empowering women and supporting local farmers across the state.

She made this known while receiving the 2025 4th Humanitarian Bootcamp Award in Nairobi, Kenya, where she called for stronger humanitarian leadership and strategic partnerships to combat hunger and foster sustainable economic transformation across Africa.

In a statement she personally signed and released on Friday, Dr. Buhari-Ado commended Governor Uba Sani for his vision and leadership in advancing the Kaduna State School Feeding Programme — a key social intervention that provides daily meals to thousands of schoolchildren.

According to her, Governor Sani’s confidence in her leadership has made it possible to touch the lives of countless children through an initiative that promotes inclusive development.

“Under his leadership, the School Feeding Programme has become a model for improving nutrition, increasing school attendance, empowering women, and strengthening local agriculture,” she said.

Dr. Buhari-Ado described the initiative as a holistic effort that reinforces multiple sectors of the economy, explaining that every meal served represents nourishment, hope, and opportunity for the next generation.

“Each meal is more than food — it’s a bridge to learning, a shield against poverty, and a promise that we care for these children and their future,” she noted. “Feeding our children is not charity; it is nation-building.”

She further emphasized that food security should be regarded as a cornerstone of Africa’s socio-economic development, stressing that eliminating hunger is crucial for achieving stability, productivity, and peace across the continent.

Dr. Buhari-Ado also celebrated the contributions of women leaders advancing humanitarian and leadership causes in Africa. She acknowledged Dr. Martina Nentawe Yilwatda, Patron of the Women’s Leadership Network, for her mentorship, and Mrs. Deborah Hornecker, the Network’s founder, for her dedication to empowering women.

“The Women’s Leadership Network serves as a vital platform for collaboration and transformation, bringing together women professionals from diverse sectors to drive inclusion, social impact, and leadership growth,” she added.

In her closing remarks, she urged governments, development partners, civil society groups, and the private sector to unite in the fight against hunger.

“When no African child or adult goes to bed hungry, we will know we have truly fed the future — not through power, but through compassion and humanity,” she said.

According to state government data, Kaduna’s School Feeding Programme is funded annually with over ₦4 billion, serving more than 730,000 pupils daily. The scheme also employs over 7,000 women as cooks across 3,400 schools, contributing to increased school enrollment, improved child nutrition, and support for local food producers.

In a related development, President Bola Tinubu recently reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to addressing child malnutrition and promoting education through the Renewed Hope Mo’Feed Project — a nationwide school feeding and empowerment initiative aimed at reaching over 600,000 vulnerable Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones.

Speaking at the project’s official launch in Lagos, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on School Feeding, Dr. Yetunde Adeniji, said the programme aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda to tackle food insecurity, poverty, and educational inequality.