August 23, 2025 — Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the welfare of Nigerian children, stressing that education cannot thrive without proper nutrition.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja on Friday, the Vice President emphasized that no child should be subjected to learning on an empty stomach. He highlighted the crucial link between nutrition and education, noting that the government’s school feeding programme and other child-focused interventions are designed to ensure that children not only attend school but also perform effectively.
Shettima described hunger as one of the greatest obstacles to quality learning, adding that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is determined to tackle malnutrition and poverty as part of its broader social investment strategy. He disclosed that the Federal Government is working with state authorities, development partners, and the private sector to strengthen school feeding schemes, boost agricultural productivity, and expand social welfare coverage.
“Education is the foundation of our future, but children cannot learn on empty stomachs. Our priority is to create a system where every child has access to both food and knowledge,” Shettima stated.
Stakeholders at the event welcomed the renewed push for school feeding, stressing that the initiative would not only increase enrollment and retention in schools but also improve health outcomes and learning capacity among children across the country.
