About 30,000 pupils in public primary schools across Lagos State will benefit from a new national nutrition intervention.
The initiative, tagged “Adopt A School, Snacks For Thought – PBAT FEEDS!”, was unveiled in Lagos by the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP).
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The National Programme Manager of the initiative, Dr. Aderemi Adebowale at a press conference said the initiative was conceived to address the growing challenge of hunger among schoolchildren.
Adebowale explained that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the objectives of the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme and Nigeria’s broader human capital development goals.
She said that research has shown that hunger affects concentration, memory retention, cognitive development, classroom participation, school attendance and overall academic performance
“Many pupils arrive in classrooms eager to learn but are unable to perform at their best because of inadequate nutrition. A hungry child struggles to learn, and a child who struggles to learn is less likely to reach his or her full potential”.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to learn. Every classroom deserves the opportunity to thrive. Every community deserves the opportunity to participate in shaping the future. By adopting a school, supporting a child or partnering through the PBAT FEEDS Dashboard, stakeholders become active participants in building a healthier, smarter and more prosperous Nigeria,” she said
The pilot phase of the programme according to her will run from June 30 to July 2, 2026, during which 30,000 pupils will receive nutritious snacks and beverages each school day.
Adoption model
Under the adoption model, individuals, corporate organisations, foundations, development partners, alumni associations, faith-based organisations, professional bodies, community groups, as well as state and local governments, can support the provision of nutritious snacks and beverages for school children.
Sponsors can choose to adopt a classroom, a grade level, a school, multiple schools, a local government area, a senatorial district or even an entire state.
According to Adebowale, the initiative is designed to democratise giving and provide a simple platform through which Nigerians can directly contribute to the educational and nutritional wellbeing of children.
Digital dashboard
A major highlight of the programme is the introduction of the Adopt A School for Snacks for Thought Dashboard, a digital platform that will serve as the operational, monitoring and accountability engine of the initiative.
The dashboard allows sponsors to search for schools by state, local government area or senatorial district, access school profiles and enrolment figures, and complete sponsorship commitments online.
It also provides real-time information on adopted schools, schools awaiting sponsorship, the number of beneficiaries reached, geographic distribution of support and sponsorship status.
“This dashboard is a game changer. It moves school support from a traditional donation model to a measurable impact model. Sponsors can see exactly who they are helping, where support is going, how resources are being utilised and what outcomes are being achieved,” Adebowale stressed.
According to her, the platform incorporates live monitoring and verification tools, including attendance tracking, distribution verification, geospatial mapping, impact monitoring and field validation mechanisms.
Adebowale expressed confidence that the initiative would contribute to improved school attendance, better classroom concentration, enhanced learning outcomes.
She called on stakeholders across the country to support the programme, describing it as a collective investment in Nigeria’s future.
