The School Feeding Revolution Taking Place in Lagos

I spent almost all of last week on Lagos Island, witnessing a school feeding revolution in Lagos Island and seeing first-hand, the responses of ordinary people and children to the unusual acts of kindness they witnessed in the five days that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s ‘Snacks For Thought’ feeding program rolled around the region.

When I first got news that the Lagos State Government was kicking off a school feeding program, my first thought was that it was a continuation of the federal government’s feeding program.

Five days in the ‘belly’ of Lagos Island quickly showed that this was different.

For starters, the five-day feeding program was a test run, with Lagos Island as the ‘guinea pig’.

The feeding program in this case also targeted pupils from Nursery 1 to Primary 6 and for five days, those pupils ate before commencing their daily activities and learning.

For a project that’s supposed to be a test run, it’s easy to give it a pass mark and declare it a success when reactions of the beneficiaries are weighed.

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Away from politics and gimmicks, it is not everyday that you get to see genuine smiles and laughter from children who have gotten used to a life of lack.

Positive Reinforcements

The first immediate impact noticed in the pupils is the punctuality.

The first day had a few children come late to school and almost missed their meals. The second day had fewer and by the third day, there was almost no latecomer.

It’s simple. With the right motivation, children would not want to miss their meals and it will prompt them to get to school early. What better example of positive reinforcements can one hope for?

Not to be written off too is the fact that children paid even more attention to how they looked. By the third day, children were looking cleaner than they did on Monday. Again, the power of positive reinforcements.

The goal of the feeding program as explained by Princess Remi Adebowale, who is the Special Adviser on Civic Engagement, was to help pupils learn better. According to her, when they ate before starting classes, it would be easier for them to concentrate in their classrooms.

Rewards

Apart from monetary gifts, pupils who answered questions correctly got recognized and clapped for.

A particular pupil in St. Paul, Breadfruit will be a one-day Local Government Chairman of Lagos Island LCDA because he answered questions correctly.

That act in itself prompted other pupils to be more vocal and attempt questions.

What Now?

Building on the success of the Princess Adebowale-led initiative, it will be a step in the right direction for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to put plans in place to start the school feeding program across Lagos State.

At a point where there are lots of incentives for children to ditch school and face a life of crime, an initiative like the ‘Snacks for Thought’ feeding program, if initiated across Lagos, will not only win the government public Goodwill but will also help more pupils stay in school and avoid a life of crime.