Recall that the free lunch program was launched last to provide daily free meals to pupils of public primary schools.

Briefing newsmen after a steering committee meeting with the Wife of the Governor Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu, the State Focal Person on Social Investment, Mr. Chinenye Nwaogu said that the amount will be received every 10 days to support the state government’s plan to provide daily free balanced meal to over 200,000 public primary school pupils in the over 859 public primary schools across the state.

Mr Nwaogu maintained that the ripple effect of the program will include high school enrollment, Agriculture productivity, rural economy, women and youth empowerment, trade and commerce etc. He informed newsmen that the multi ministerial steering committee has put in place solid structures to ensure the overall success of the program.

The committee during its meeting approved the implementation timeline presented by the Program Manager Elder G C Ahuruonye.

He thanked the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Phd and his Wife Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu for providing the enabling support for the state to qualify for this massive funding support.

In her remarks the wife of the Governor, thanked the Federal Government for coming to the aid of the state to implement the free school program in Abia State.

She opined that the plan to provide free school meal to pupils of public primary schools was very dear to the heart of the Governor of the state Dr Okezie Ikpeazu who is poised to impact on the lives of all Abians especially the vulnerable. She enjoined all beneficiaries, the pupils, the cooks and the food input suppliers to take full advantage of this laudable program to improve on their lots.

She thanked the state focal person for Social Investment Mr Chinenye Nwaogu for his commitment to the program of the state government, observing that his tenacity and hard work has attracted huge program and support to the state.

Others in attendance at the meeting included the wife of the deputy Governor Mrs Ude Oko Chukwu, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education Mrs Amuta and her counterpart at the Ministry of Women affairs Dr Mrs Chikezie, among several others.