Fauziya Hails Gov. Uba Sani's Education Reforms, Calls for More Support for Kaduna School Feeding

Education stakeholders and community leaders in Kaduna State have expressed strong appreciation for the education-focused governance of Governor Uba Sani, with particular praise directed at the state's ongoing school feeding programme, which has significantly boosted school enrolment, improved attendance, and reduced dropout rates across public primary schools.

The commendation was delivered during a stakeholders' engagement session in Kaduna, where community representatives, parent-teacher associations, education officers, and civil society groups gathered to assess the impact of Governor Sani's education reforms and discuss ways to deepen their reach and sustainability.

Fauziya, speaking on behalf of education advocates and community stakeholders, described the school feeding programme as one of the most transformative social investments of the current administration, saying it had fundamentally changed the relationship between poor families and the public school system in Kaduna.

"Before this programme, many parents in low-income communities were pulling their children out of school because they simply could not afford to feed them. The school feeding initiative changed that. Today, children are coming to school because they know they will eat. And once they are in school, they are learning," Fauziya said.

The school feeding programme has recorded measurable gains in student enrolment and daily attendance across public primary schools in Kaduna State. Data from the state's education ministry shows that schools participating in the feeding programme have recorded significantly higher attendance rates compared to those not yet covered, with some schools in previously under-served communities reporting enrolment increases of up to 40 per cent since the programme commenced.

The programme, which provides daily meals to pupils in participating public primary schools, has been implemented in collaboration with local food vendors and smallholder farmers, creating an additional economic ripple effect in communities hosting the schools. Women who serve as food vendors under the programme have spoken of the steady income it provides, making it not only an education intervention but also a grassroots economic empowerment tool.

Nutritionists who have assessed the programme have also noted improvements in pupils' concentration, energy levels, and learning engagement, factors that directly contribute to better academic performance.

Beyond the school feeding programme, Fauziya and other stakeholders highlighted the broader education reforms being implemented by the Sani administration, including the rehabilitation and construction of school infrastructure, recruitment of teachers, distribution of learning materials, and the introduction of technology-driven education initiatives.

The governor has consistently prioritised basic and secondary education in the state's budget allocations, with a particular emphasis on schools in rural and disadvantaged communities that were historically underserved. Officials have pointed to improvements in WAEC and NECO results from Kaduna State schools as partial evidence that the reforms are beginning to yield academic dividends.

While commending the administration's efforts, Fauziya and other stakeholders stressed that the gains remain fragile without sustained and expanding financial support. They called on the Federal Government, the international development community, and the private sector to scale up their support for the Kaduna school feeding programme and similar initiatives across the state.

Fauziya noted that many schools in remote and rural areas of Kaduna are not yet covered by the feeding programme due to funding limitations and logistical challenges. She urged the state government to prioritise the expansion of the programme to reach every public primary school in all 23 local government areas of the state.

"What Governor Sani has started is commendable. But the truth is that there are still many children who are hungry during school hours, many classrooms that are in disrepair, and many communities where teachers are still in short supply," she said. "We need the Federal Government, donor agencies, and corporate Nigeria to step in and support what is being built here."

The stakeholders also called for a more structured partnership between the Kaduna State Government and the Federal Government's National Social Investment Programme, which operates the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme at the national level. They noted that closer coordination would help avoid duplication of effort, maximise resources, and ensure that the meals being provided meet established nutritional standards.

International development organisations, including UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), and the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), were also encouraged to increase their investment in Kaduna's education and school feeding ecosystem, given the state's demonstrated commitment and the measurable results being achieved.

Responding to the commendations and calls for action, representatives of the Kaduna State Government at the event reiterated the governor's personal commitment to making Kaduna a model for basic education delivery in Northern Nigeria. They said the administration was in active discussions with federal agencies and international partners to expand the school feeding programme and address the infrastructure gaps in the state's public schools.

Officials noted that Governor Sani views education as the foundation of every other development goal, including economic growth, security, and poverty reduction. They described the school feeding programme as one of the most cost-effective tools available for keeping children in school and giving them a foundation for a productive future.

As Kaduna State continues to build on its education reforms, the message from community stakeholders is clear: the momentum must not be lost. With continued investment, policy consistency, and expanded partnerships, the progress being made in Kaduna's classrooms today could become one of the most powerful engines for the state's long-term transformation.