The Niger State government has distributed kitchen utensils and classroom furniture to boarding schools in the state Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago made the symbolic distribution at the Educational Resource Centres, Minna.Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, the Governor said the idea is to enhance the school feeding initiative, particularly to ensure that nutritious meals are prepared and served safely to the students.
He said the state government will extend the policy beyond improving school kitchens to empowering students to take pride in their education and aspire to be the best in their chosen careers. While enumerating the achievements recorded in education by his administration, Governor Umaru Bago reiterated that his priority is to ensure access to quality education is provided from the basic to the tertiary level. He explained that in doing so, about half of the 2025 budget will go to the education and health sectors, adding that N1.8 billion has been earmarked as a matching grant to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
Governor Bago reiterated his administration’s commitment to the timely payment of counterpart funds to support educational projects in the State. According to him, “Through our partnership with the World Bank Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) programme, we intend to expand access to education for girls and children and renovate 534 schools across the state. Also, given the importance of technical and vocational education, the sum of N1.512 billion was earmarked for the complete renovation and equipping of a technical school in Suleja, Governor added He commended the Ministry for Basic and Secondary Education as well as all critical stakeholders for their support in revamping the education sector in the State, urging them not to relent in their efforts.
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Hadiza Asabe Mohammed, pointed out that the lack of essential kitchen utensils in boarding schools has been a major concern, affecting the wellbeing of students. She described the distribution of kitchen utensils as a significant step in the collective effort to enhance education in the state.
The Commissioner further noted that the state presently has 43 active boarding schools under the government’s direct feeding programme, which includes 34 conventional boarding schools and 8 integrated Qur’anic education schools, serving a total of 9,382 students, with the number expected to rise to 12,000 in the forthcoming 2024/2025 academic session.
Dr Asabe Mohammed commended the state governor for the gesture in alignment with the enhanced school feeding program. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Jonathan Wasa, in his remarks, applauded Governor Umaru Bago for his political will to “work the talk” towards changing the negative education narrative in the state. Meanwhile, some of the kitchen utensils distributed include a 5,000-litre capacity of water storage tanks, fry pans, plastic drums, grinding machines, cooking pots, and plastics. Others include trays, buckets, serving spoons, big good warmers (cooler) turning sticks, chopping boards, mortar and pestles, torch lights, kitchen knives, perforated cooking spoons, iron basins, students’ plates, measuring jugs, fire stands, and big and student food warmers, among others.
The Niger State government has distributed kitchen utensils and classroom furniture to boarding schools in the state.
