Niger  Decries Exodus of Students from Boarding Schools over Poor Feeding

Laleye Dipo in Minna

The Niger State Government has decried the exodus of students from boarding schools across the state over poor feeding, blaming the situation on the diversion of food meant for the students by some school administrators.

The state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Hadiza Asabe Mohammed, who raised the alarm while launching a ‘New School Feeding Scheme’ at the Maryam Babangida Girls Science College in Minna,  said the government would no longer tolerate such act from any school head.

The state runs over 40 boarding schools mostly for science and female students.

Mohammed warned principals of schools against the diversion of food supplied to their schools, saying a mechanism has been put in place to know those involved in the “illegal and immoral act.”

She said the government would now start supplying “eggs milk and other food items with high nutritional values” to the schools to ensure the students are fed with a balanced diet daily.

Stressing the importance of the consumption of nutritious meals by the students, Mohammed said apart from improving their growth, it would also improve the students learning process and overall development.

She, therefore, declared that the new feeding scheme “is aimed at providing nutritious meals to students, ensuring their physical and mental growths for better learning outcomes.”

The commissioner also noted that the initiative reflects the commitment of the ministry and the state government “to prioritise the well-being and academic success of students in the state.”