Children at Danturai Primary School in Zamfara State now receive daily meals as part of a school feeding programme launched in early 2026. The initiative, introduced by a joint team from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the World Food Programme (WFP), aims to boost school attendance and improve learning outcomes. Since its rollout in February 2026, classrooms at the school have seen increased enrolment, with many parents citing the meal programme as a key reason for sending their children to school.
The feeding programme provides a hot, nutritious meal to pupils each school day. School officials reported that attendance rates have improved significantly, particularly among girls and children from low-income households. A teacher at the school, Amina Bello, said, "More children come to school now because they know they will eat. Some walk over three kilometres just for this meal." The programme currently serves over 5,000 pupils across 25 primary schools in the state.
IFPRI and WFP plan to assess the long-term impact of the meals on academic performance and retention rates. Data collected in the first quarter of 2026 shows a 40 per cent rise in daily attendance at participating schools.
A single meal is now a stronger incentive than years of policy promises for many children in Zamfara. The jump in attendance since the IFPRI-WFP feeding programme began suggests that basic needs are still the foundation of education access. For Nigerian families struggling with poverty, a bowl of food at school can outweigh the immediate value of child labour. This shift in behaviour around Danturai Primary School underscores how survival logic shapes educational decisions.
