By NAN
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) on Tuesday, donated ICT equipment to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, to enhance the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the equipment included 150 Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.4; 8 Lenovo Thinkpad; two 24inches, Lenovo Monitors; 3 Laser Printers and 2 Samsung 55inches LED Smart Tv.
The WFP’ s Country Director, Mr Ronald Sibanda, said the WFP was pleased to provide a significant transfer of ICT equipment to help improve, scale up and sustain the NHGSFP.
“The Tablet has access to the SMP Plus, a free tool to help state Nutrition Officers design nutritious menus for schools.
“The hardware will not only support the ministry efforts to digitilise its monitoring and evaluation system, but will also enable the national roll out of the SMP Plus, developed by WFP to standardise cost-effective menu development.
“Taking the NHGSFP to the next level represent a further investment in the country’s future and in the capacity of its people to lead productive lives.
“I want to thank the Ministry for the progress it has made so far. I hope Nigeria would share her experience with other African countries on how to achieve this success,’’ Sibanda said.
Responding, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiysa Umar Farouq, appreciated the WFP for the gesture, describing it as an index of partnership, cooperation and support.
Farouq added that partnering with WFP indicated that the ministry was doing the right thing.
She stressed that since President Muhammadu Buhari made the policy statement of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in ten years; her ministry took that statement most religiously.
“And because of that we have decided to be genuinely committed to ensure that all the components under the well designed NSIP is implemented without failure.
“We have assembled a very effective team, especially on NHGSFP and I think the signals that we allow to radiate nationally, regionally, continentally and globally are met, thus, organisations have indicated willingness to partner with us.
“We appreciate the support of WFP, your logo and statements on our books say a lot, irrespective of what anybody can say.
“We have ensured that in the 36 states and the FCT, there is a programme Manager on the programme,’’ Farouq said
She explained further that these managers were continuously trained to ensure effective implementation of the programme.
According to her, through the state managers, the ministry was able to identify about 60, 000 schools and nearly ten millions pupils, feeding them regularly, ensuring that the cooks are performing their duties regularly.
“With delight, I can report to you that, till today, we have not had any dangers of typhoid, diarrhea or death, which is an indication that we are doing well.
“Today, you are here to deliver an additional hand for us to professionally ensure efficiency and effectiveness.
“These digital equipment will go a long way to improve the quality of delivery of our technical officers in the field in designing the food and that data is analysed and communication is done effectively,’’ Farouq said.
NAN reports that Farouq was represented at the event by Dr Umar Bindir, the National Coordinator, NSIP. (NAN)