Ambode: A-meal-a-day for pupils begins in 2016

Akinwunmi Ambode, governor of Lagos state on Thursday said the government’s ‘A-Meal-a-Day’ programme in the state’s public primary schools would commence in 2016.

Ambode said this while presenting the year 2016 budget proposal to the state house of assembly.

The governor presented a budget proposal of N662.58 billion.

Ambode explained that the programme would be done in collaboration with the federal government, which would provide 60 per cent of the funding.

“This programme promises not only to improve the daily nutrition of our children but will also create an economy of its own, with opportunities for job creation, income generation, poverty alleviation, and so on,” he said.

Ambode said the state government’s intervention in education would continue in the areas of maintenance of public school buildings and facilities, and provision of basic instructional materials.

He listed other areas of intervention to include free textbooks for schools and mandatory capacity building programmes for teachers in public schools.

“We intend to launch an advocacy programme ‘Kick Illiteracy out of Lagos’, starting from year 2016,” he said.

“I am happy to inform you that in 2016, we will develop our e-Curriculum, leading to the distribution of Ibile tablets to students in our public schools.”

Ambode said the revolution at the secondary school level would set a new standard in the educational system, adding that it would also enhance the knowledge of the children, to enable them to compete effectively with their peers in other parts of the world.

On transportation, Ambode said the plan in 2016 was to fully operationalise the multi-modal transport system, explaining that this would be through the construction of new jetties and completion of work on the Blue-Rail Line project from Mile 2 to Marina.

On security, the governor said his government would not relent in its efforts at making the state very secure for all residents and visitors in 2016.

“We will continue to support our security agencies with the necessary tools to fight crime,” he said.

“We will build on the existing cordial relationship with the private sector in ensuring that Security Trust Fund is efficiently utilised to make our state very safe.”

Ambode said a medical park would be established to make the state a key destination for medical tourism.

He said construction of new roads would commence across the state in the coming year.

“We will place the completion on-going road construction projects and pedestrian bridges on our priority list in year 2016,” he said.

He said the government would promote environmentally friendly habits among the populace and complete on-going drainage projects.

Ambode said the state would collaborate with other states in the development of a commodity value chain, specifically for rice production.

“In 2016, we will invest more in Ayobo Fish Farm Estate at Alimosho to boost fish production and provide employment opportunities for our people,” he said.

“In order to secure ourselves food-wise, an Agric Park will be established in 2016.”