On Thursday May 14, 2020 HM @sadiya_farouq flagged off the modified Home Grown School Feeding Programme in Kuje, Abuja. The flag off witnessed a huge turnout. 
Contrary to speculations, the programme is not targetting school children but parents/guardians/caregivers of primary 1-3 children enrolled on the programme.
Beneficiaries who were issued QR coded and time stamped vouchers over 3 days picked up their Take-Home Rations at select distribution centers with NYSC members facilitating the process in full view of the national press.
HM @sadiya_farouq was joined by Paul Howe, Country Director of the World Food Programme in Nigeria. @WFP_Nigeria is providing Technical Support in line with SDG-2 which targets Zero Hunger by 2030.
The programme is sequel to a presidential directive of March 29th 2020 which mandated @FMHDSD to work with state govts in finding ways of feeding school children during the lockdown.
The programme will run in all the states that are in the program plus the FCT. It will start from Abuja then Lagos and Ogun before extending to other states. The FG is funding while states are implementing.
Each beneficiary received a Take-Home Ration made up of 5 kg Bag of Rice, 5 kg Bag of Beans, 500 ml Vegetable Oil, 750 ml Palm Oil, 500 mg Salt, 15 pcs of eggs, 140gm Tomato Paste.
The programme will impact 3,131,971 households across the nation. The only difference is that instead of children getting cooked meals in school their parents/guardians would get food items
29,609 Take-Home Rations will be distributed to parents/guardians & caregivers of children enrolled in Abuja over the course of the distribution.
In compliance with #COVIDー19 safety and hygiene protocols, parents/guardians/caregivers adhered to hand washing and social distancing measures.
With poultry farmers groaning under the impact of #COVIDー19, the programme, which is giving out 15 eggs per household is a source of much needed revenue for farmers.
The modified school feeding programme is thus supporting local farmers, providing income, alleviating hunger among the vulnerable and boosting the economy.
The next port of call is Lagos then Ogun state before extending to all the states of the Federation.
To ensure transparency in the process, @FMHDSD invited other agencies of government including the DSS, @officialEFCC, @ICPC_PE, @CCBNigeria and a host of NGOs and CSOs to monitor.
In her remarks at the flag-off HM @sadiya_farouq said "@FMHDSD is working hard with our partners both at National and International levels to mitigate the challenge posed by hunger especially during this trying period.''
@FMHDSD calls all Nigerians to monitor and support this worthy initiative with the objective of keeping our children fed during this pandemic.
Post distribution we followed some beneficiaries home to capture them in their natural environment with their school-age children.
