Oladeji.Babawale
July 3, 2025
Osun State to Host Global Stakeholders Conference on Sustainable School Feeding and Child Nutrition.
Abuja – 03/07/2025 – osunstate.gov.ng
Osun State to Host Global Stakeholders Conference on Sustainable School Feeding and Child Nutrition
The Government of Osun State, through the Ministries of Education, Economic Planning, Budget and Development, and Federal Affairs, is set to convene a high-level stakeholders conference focused on the sustainability of the O’Meals programme, Osun’s homegrown school feeding initiative. The event, themed “Sustainability of O’Meals for Improved Child Nutrition in Osun State,” will bring together development partners and international agencies actively involved in school feeding programmes across Africa and around the globe.
This significant conference aims to strengthen dialogue around the future of school feeding in sub-national contexts, with a particular focus on the unique case of Osun State. As the only state in Nigeria to have consistently operated a structured school feeding programme since 2006, Osun’s O’Meals stands as a benchmark in the national conversation on food security, nutrition, and educational development.
With over 200,000 direct beneficiaries, including pupils, food vendors, and local suppliers, the O’Meals programme in Osun State is not only a critical nutritional intervention but also a powerful driver of grassroots economic empowerment. Osun state currently commits over ₦32 million daily to sustain this initiative, reinforcing its commitment to improving child welfare and reducing poverty.
This remarkable feat has earned Osun commendations from several international agencies and development partners who recognize the state’s unwavering dedication to child nutrition and inclusive development. The upcoming conference seeks to build on this momentum by fostering partnerships and harnessing technical expertise to further enhance the programme’s impact.
The event organized by the Osun State Government in collaboration with the African Union Development Agency – New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD), will play host to global development partners including the Dangote Foundation, Family Health International (FHI360), UN World Food Programme, Nutrition International, Partnership for Child Development, ActionAid Nigeria, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), among others.
Scheduled to hold on Tuesday July 8, 2025, at NAF Conference Centre in Abuja, the conference will serve as a critical forum for discussing key issues surrounding the sustainability and scalability of school feeding programmes, especially within resource-constrained sub-national environments.
Among the core objectives of the gathering are: to evaluate the sustainability prospects of the O’Meals programme; share best practices and innovations in school feeding; explore improved strategies for enhancing child nutrition; and to welcome new partnerships for broader impact in Osun State.
It will also offer an opportunity for policy makers, technical experts, implementing partners, and donor organisations to deliberate on actionable frameworks for aligning the O’Meals programme with broader development goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on zero hunger, quality education, and good health and well-being.
The Osun State Government remains committed to ensuring that no child is left behind. Through strategic collaborations and purposeful leadership, the State continues to set a precedent for inclusive and sustainable development practices in Nigeria’s education and nutrition sectors.
E-Signed
Oluomo Kolapo Alimi,
Hon Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment.
