To boost child nutrition and learning outcomes, the Ekiti State Government has introduced free milk into its school feeding programme for public primary school pupils across the state.
This initiative is part of the government’s broader strategy to improve child nutrition, increase school attendance, and promote better academic performance across public primary schools in the state.
Governor Abiodun Oyebanji made the announcement during the official flag-off of the Ikun Free Milk initiative, a weekly milk distribution programme for primary school pupils in Ikun-Ekiti.
The initiative, sponsored by Promasidor Nigeria Limited—the company managing Ikun Dairy Farm, is part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the host community.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Oyebanji described the milk programme as a strategic move to complement the national school feeding scheme, enhance pupils’ nutritional intake, and improve educational outcomes.
“Proper nutrition is fundamental to the cognitive and physical development of our children. This initiative will not only boost their health but also help to increase enrolment and attendance in our public primary schools,” the Governor said.
The Governor expressed appreciation to Promasidor for its commitment to community development and reaffirmed his administration’s readiness to continue fostering a business-friendly climate for investors through supportive policies, robust infrastructure, and enhanced security.
“The success of the Ikun Dairy Farm demonstrates the power of effective public-private partnerships. We are committed to ensuring every child in Ekiti has access to quality education and adequate nutrition, which are central to our development agenda,” he noted.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Muktah, represented by Victor Egbon, Director of Corporate and Monogastric, praised the collaboration between Ekiti State and Promasidor.
Muktah, who described Ikun Dairy Farm as a model for livestock innovation and productivity in Nigeria, urged other states and stakeholders to emulate the Ekiti example, stressing that the livestock sector remains critical to food security, job creation, and economic growth.
On behalf of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Enom Udoma-Eniang, Director of Corporate Affairs, thanked the Governor for his support and leadership, which he said has enabled the company’s operations to thrive.
“The Ikun Free Milk programme reflects our commitment to giving back to our host community. Promasidor remains dedicated to sustaining its investment in Ekiti and exploring further areas of collaboration,” Udoma-Eniang stated.
Earlier, Oyebanji, accompanied by government officials and Promasidor representatives, toured the Ikun Dairy Farm, inspecting key facilities including the production line and cow feeding areas.
He expressed satisfaction with the farm’s progress, particularly the increase in herd size, milk production capacity, and employment generation.
