The Lagos State Government has launched the pilot phase of the Adopt-A-School PBAT Feeds Programme, tagged “Snacks for Thought,” aimed at improving pupils’ nutrition, boosting learning outcomes and encouraging greater private sector participation in public primary education.
A statement by the Lagos State Government said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu flagged off the initiative at the Lagos Island East Local Council Development Area, where he stressed that no child should be made to learn on an empty stomach.
Speaking through the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. ‘Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, the governor described the programme as a transformative partnership designed to improve children’s nutrition, enhance learning outcomes and strengthen human capital development.
He said Lagos State was privileged to host the pilot phase of the initiative under the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, noting that it reflects the shared commitment of the Federal Government, Lagos State Government and the private sector to securing a better future for Nigerian children.
According to Sanwo-Olu, the programme goes beyond providing meals for pupils, describing it as a movement built on the belief that no child should be denied the opportunity to learn because of hunger. He added that every stakeholder has a responsibility to invest in the country’s future through its children.
“The initiative is more than a school feeding programme but a movement founded on the belief that no child should be denied the opportunity to learn because of hunger and that every stakeholder has a responsibility to invest in the nation’s future through its children,” Gov. Sanwo-Olu said.
The governor commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership and commitment to policies that promote education, nutrition and human capital development under the Renewed Hope Agenda. He also acknowledged the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her consistent advocacy for children, women and other vulnerable groups.
Sanwo-Olu said children who receive nutritious meals are more likely to attend school regularly, participate actively during lessons and achieve their full potential.
He added that the initiative would also boost the local economy by creating opportunities for farmers, food processors, caterers and other small businesses through local food sourcing, while strengthening value chains and supporting education.
The governor reaffirmed that education and human capital development remain key priorities under the Lagos State Government’s THEMES+ Agenda. He highlighted the government’s continued investments in modern classrooms, teacher development, digital learning infrastructure, school health programmes and improved learning environments.
Sanwo-Olu also appealed to corporate organisations, financial institutions, professional bodies, charitable foundations, faith-based organisations, alumni associations and well-meaning individuals to support the programme by adopting public primary schools across the state.
He described the initiative as a strategic investment in the future workforce, productivity and prosperity of Lagos State and Nigeria, expressing optimism that every public primary school in the state would eventually have a committed partner.
The governor further described the newly introduced Adopt-A-School Dashboard as a major innovation that would promote transparency, accountability and public confidence by allowing sponsors to identify schools, monitor implementation and track the impact of their interventions in real time.
He encouraged organisations and individuals to register on the platform by scanning the programme’s QR code, adopt schools and monitor the impact of their support on the lives of pupils.
Sanwo-Olu assured prospective partners that the Lagos State Government would continue to provide an enabling environment, strengthen accountability and ensure that every genuine partnership delivers measurable benefits for children.
He added that all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies had been directed to work closely with programme coordinators and actively engage with the digital dashboard to ensure the successful implementation of the initiative.
