Fauziya Buhari-Ado school feeding initiative earns global recognition for empowering women and boosting food security across Kaduna and Africa

Fauziya Buhari-Ado school feeding initiative has received international recognition for its transformative impact on food security, women’s empowerment, and education in Nigeria, particularly across Kaduna State.

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Dr Fauziya Buhari-Ado, the Special Assistant to the Kaduna State Governor on the School Feeding Programme, was honoured with the 2025 4th Humanitarian Bootcamp Award in Nairobi, Kenya, for her leadership in implementing one of Nigeria’s most impactful social intervention schemes.

The award comes as her initiative continues to provide daily nutritious meals to over 730,000 pupils across 3,400 schools in Kaduna, while employing more than 7,000 women as cooks and supporting thousands of local farmers.

Speaking at the event, Dr Buhari-Ado paid tribute to Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, whose leadership and trust, she said, have made the programme a model for inclusive development.

“Governor Uba Sani’s confidence in my capacity to serve has made it possible to impact the lives of children across Kaduna State,” she said.

“Under his leadership, the School Feeding Programme has become a model of inclusive development — improving nutrition, boosting school attendance, empowering women, and supporting local farmers.”

She emphasised that the Fauziya Buhari-Ado school feeding strategy is not just about food, but about building a future where every child is given a fair chance.

“Each meal we provide is not just food; it is a bridge to learning, a shield against poverty, and a promise that we see these children, we care for them, and we will not abandon them,” she said passionately. “Feeding our children is not charity — it is nation-building.”

Her keynote, titled “Feeding the Future: Leveraging Humanitarian Leadership to Achieve Food Security and Economic Transformation in Africa”, made a powerful case for food security as a core pillar of Africa’s development.

She called on African governments, development partners, and private sector players to strengthen strategic partnerships to end hunger and support long-term economic growth.

Dr Buhari-Ado also applauded women leaders championing humanitarian causes across the continent, highlighting the critical role of the Women’s Leadership Network in mentoring the next generation of female leaders.

With more than ₦4 billion in annual state funding, the Kaduna State School Feeding Programme remains one of Nigeria’s largest and most impactful food security interventions.

Its success complements federal efforts such as President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Mo’Feed Project, which aims to reach over 600,000 vulnerable Nigerians nationwide.

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“When the day comes that no African child — and no African adult — goes to bed hungry, we will know that we have truly fed the future — not through power, but through humanity, compassion, and love,” Dr Buhari-Ado concluded.