A delegation from the Federal Government, led by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on School Feeding, Yetunde Adeniji, undertook a scheduled visit to Osun State in response to the recent food poisoning incident involving 18 pupils at James Primary School in Osogbo.
In a statement released on Thursday by her media team, Adeniji clarified that the visit was aimed at gathering first-hand information and updates on the alleged food poisoning that occurred on December 12 under the state government’s Home Grown School Feeding program.
The visit follows the initiation of a probe by the state government into the circumstances surrounding the mid-day meal served to the pupils under the Osun free school feeding program. Governor Ademola Adeleke promptly ordered the suspension of food preparation at the affected school pending the investigation’s outcome, and the victims were treated and discharged after receiving medical care.
During the delegation’s visit, which was welcomed by Governor Adeleke and his deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi, it was reported that the purported incident had been largely misrepresented. Adeniji reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the well-being of children in public schools, emphasizing Tinubu’s dedication to school feeding programs as part of his eight-point agenda. She assured that no state would be overlooked in fulfilling the vision to provide meals for 10 million children across the country.
Adeniji also issued a warning, stating, “The meals served in schools must be of very high standards. We urge schools to remain vigilant against sharp practices related to the quality and hygiene of the meals served. The FG will be establishing a monitoring and evaluation unit to ensure continued commitment to the safety and success of school feeding programs across the country. In the coming days, our office would ensure government policies are strictly adhered to across the federation to standardize school feeding programs in Nigeria, amongst other sweeping reforms.”