From Obinna Odogwu, Ekwulobia

As the Federal Government is still grappling with the challenges of how to commence the proposed free feeding programme in schools across the country, over 3,000 pupils of some nursery and primary schools in Anambra State have started enjoying free meals, courtesy of the Augusta Ngozi Agbasionwe Foundation, a non-governmental organization, based in Awka, the state capital.

The schools that have benefited from the gesture are Udoka Nursery and Primary School, Awka, in Awka South Local Government Area and Saint Raphael’s Primary School, Awkuzu, in Oyi Local Government Area.

The pupils, who were excited to receive sumptuous meals and drinks to rejuvenate them during their lesson period, were full of praise for the foundation for giving them a sense of belonging.

Speaking on the occasion, the president of the Augusta Ngozi Agbasionwe Foundation, Chief (Dr.) Augusta Agbasionwe, said the programme was part of her desire to alleviate hunger and malnutrition, which she said ravage many school children.

While enumerating the negative effects of hunger and malnutrition on school children, she pointed out that “giving children balanced diets at all times would help to fortify them with basic nutritional requirements needed for brain formation, as well as speedy assimilation of their academic works.”

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Mrs Agbasionwe, who was represented by a staff of the foundation, Mrs. Oluchukwu Chukwuenyem, noted that the programme would be continuous until all the schools in the state were covered.

She said that she has no political ambition but passion to support and empower humanity, especially widows, women, youths and the indigent members of the society.

She added that “the foundation is carrying out free medical mission where inestimable numbers of indigent persons are being treated of various ailments, offsetting the hospital bills of indigent persons, and visiting motherless babies’ homes, among others.

Two members of staff of the foundation, Mr. Obiora Nwoye and Mrs. Felicia Okika, explained that the vision of the foundation was to give service to humanity in diverse ways such as alleviating suffering, hunger, poverty, promote education and tackle health challenges of the less privileged.

The headmistress of Saint Raphael’s Primary School Awkuzu, Mrs Angela Obiechina, while noting that the feeding programme would build the children physically and intellectually described the gesture as divine providence.

Two teachers of the school, Mrs. Pauline Okeke and Mrs. Josephine Onyekwena, while calling on other public-spirited individuals to emulate the gesture of the Augusta Ngozi Agbasionwe Foundation, stressed that a well-fed child would concentrate more in class.