The Helen Keller International has marked this year's harvest fair with a lift given to some nine schools within the Ikeja axis, reports NaijaAgroNet.
The Country Director of Helen Keller International in Nigeria Mrs Philomena Oji made these disclosures at the 2021 Harvest Fair organized by the organization in Lagos at the weekend.
In her opening remarks at the venue of this year’s harvest fair held at Agidingbi PrimarySschool Ikeja, Mrs Oji noted that for three years since January 1st, 2018, the Mondelez International foundation had funded Helen Keller International to support schools and communities to reach under-served children in Nigeria through innovative ways.
Helen Keller International, she said, plan is to reach over 6,000 children with the importance of proper nutrition, physical activity and gardening through in-school and after-school activities.
According to her, their programme in Nigeria targets a direct reach of 6,000 children in primary schools, and an estimated indirect reach of about 48,000 out-of-school children and their families across the Community Development Areas (CDAs) of Lagos State.
These programmes, she stressed are all geared towards creating school and community environments that encourage children and families to adopt lifelong healthy habits.
This year’s fair, she said, is in collaboration with the Lagos State government, with main objective primarily to reduce undernutrition, overweight among primary school pupils aged 6- 11 years in nine public primary school in Ikeja LGA, Lagos State.
Some of the beneficiary schools, NaijaAgroNet gathered include Agidingbi primary school, Estate primary school, Ogba primary school, St Peters primary school, Tokunbo Alli primary school, Oke-Ira primary school, Ojodu primary school (1,2,3).
The current efforts, she also said, would be booster to ensure that green revolution is maintained, whereas the importance of smart farming cannot be overemphasized.
Equally in her goodwill message, the nutrition desk officer for Ministry of Environment and Water Resources on behalf of the permanent secretary (office of environmental services), Mrs. Falaye Aderemi-Aina, commended Helen Keller and partners for great impacts on the vulnerable and disadvantaged, especially in the state.
"People sometimes take health and nutrition for granted, what they fail to understand is nutrition is critical part of health and development, better nutrition is related to improve infant, child and maternal health, stronger immune systems, safer pregnancy and child birth, lower risk of non-communicable disease and longevity, this in turn helps children learn better," she said.
In addition, the Team Lead, Mr. Taiwo Aladesanmi, said that the programme will be extended to other 33 schools in Ikeja LGA which diversify the qualities of fruits and vegetables needed to meet required micronutrients through smart farming as well as include use of recycled containers and tyres among others.
NaijaAgroNet reports that recognitions were given to different schools and teachers who have given their immense support to the harvest fair 2021.
In monitoring criterion, the punctuality showcase by teachers and students to the crops planted, Agidingbi Primary School was the winner. While the ‘brain work’ including quiz competition saw Ojodu Primary School 2 emerging as the winner. On the exhibition contest, Oke- Ira primary school was the winner next to first presentation focusing on the cultural aspects and attires which the winner was Ojodu Primary School 2. The second focus on crop presentation also went to Oke-Ira.
The trophy of this year harvest was taken home by Ojodu Primary School 2 as the overall winner.
Ujunwa Nweke/Editor
No comments:
Post a Comment
Share ur views here