Sokoto Engages 2,932 Cooks to Feed 300,151 Pupils

By Mohammed Aminu in Sokoto

No fewer than 2,932 cooks have been engaged to feed 300,151 pupils in 1,881 primary schools selected under the federal government school feeding programme in Sokoto State.

The Permanent Secretary, Sokoto State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Alhaji Abdullahi Bala, disclosed this Tuesday at the inauguration of the statewide free school feeding programme in Sokoto.

Bala, who spoke through a director in the ministry, Abdullahi Durbawa, said each meal costs N70 and pupils would be given different types of meals daily.

According to him, the programme has commenced in 1,881 out of the 2,015 primary schools across the state.

He commended the federal government for the initiative.

The permanent secretary to this end, expressed optimism that the programme would be sustained in the state.

“The federal government will cater for primary one to three pupils, while the state government will take care of pupils in primary four to six.

“Our target is to be able to feed pupils in 2015 primary schools across the state,” he said.

The children were served with rice and beans on Tuesday.

Some parents — Mallam Isma’il Umar, Sidi Umaru and Aminu Muhammad — who spoke to newsmen, lauded the federal government for the commencement of the programme in the state and urged stakeholders to ensure transparency at all levels.