Osun Govt has injected over 20 billion naira into State economy through O'meal since 2012 ~ Mr Benedict Alabi.

The government of the state of Osun has said about twenty billion, thirteen million, nine hundred and twenty seven thousand, five hundred naira has been injected so far into the economic of the state through the Osun Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme O'meal since the inception of the programme in the year 2012.

According to the state government, about Five Thousand, Three hundred and Seven food vendors have been employed to feed about Three hundred and Seventy Nine Thousand, Nine hundred and Eight Pupils of public primary schools within the period.

The State Deputy Governor Mr Benedict Alabi disclosed this on Tuesday while declaring open the training of the newly recruited food vendors for the O'meal programme held at Ataoja High School Osogbo.

He announced at the programme that about Two billion, three hundred and Ninety three million, three hundred and Seventy four thousand naira is being projected to expend on the programme in the next one year with about Twelve million, six hundred thousand naira per day to feed the public primary school pupils from grade One to Four across the state.

Mr Alabi, who represented the Governor , Mr  Gboyega Oyetola, was away on National assignment, highlighted some of the benefits of the programme and its positive impacts on the economy of the state since  2012 to include the improvement in the nutritional health status of school children, increase in the public school enrollment, retention and completion of primary education as well as reduction of poverty and hunger.

He maintained that, through the school feeding programme, thousands of job opportunities have been created while the local food production has also increased tremendously to boost the income of farmers, stimulate and develop small and medium scale industries.

The Deputy Governor, State of Osun expressed the commitment of the state government to the programme assuring that Mr Gboyega Oyetola's administration will continue to provide all necessary logistics and supports in order to achieve the set objectives and aims of the programme.

He however charged the newly recruited food vendors  not to compromise the standard and quality of the school feeding programme which has earned the state a good reputation in Nigeria and in the world.

"Another #2,393,374,000:00 is projected to be spent in the next one year. Consequently, additional jobs were created with 2,000 fish farmers, 2,000 Cocoyam farmers and 600 poultry farmers.

" Let me assured you that the State Government is fully committed to this programme and will continue to provide all necessary logistics and supports in order to achieve its set aims and objectives", Mr Alabi stated.

The state Deputy Governor congratulated the newly recruited food vendors.

He reminded them to see their employment as a wonderful opportunity for them to serve the  state and explore the window of improving not just their personal economy but also the economy of all the stakeholders in the supply chain of the programme.