Helen Keller launches programme on school gardening, healthy lifestyle for Lagos schools

For the next three years, 6,000 pupils, from nine schools in Ikeja Local Council Area of Lagos State, would be engaged on importance of gardening through in-school and after-school activities, proper nutrition and physical activity, courtesy of Helen Keller International (HKI).

The initiative, which runs from January 2018 to December 2020, in partnership with the Lagos State government and funding from Mondelez International Foundation is part of the foundation’s multi-year $50m focused on healthy lifestyle programs, aimed at bringing nutrition education, active play and fresh food to underserved children and their families in Ikeja area.

At the launch held during the week, at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, the organisers disclosed that aside the 6,000 children in the schools, an estimated indirect reach of about 48,000 children and their families across the Community Development Areas (CDAs), would be achieved.

In her presentation, HKI’s Country Director, Philomena Orji said part of the immediate and international objectives of the programme is to integrate more nutritious foods into local production by training teachers, parents and volunteers on best practices for producing nutritious foods.

She added that it is also aimed at integrating agriculture and nutrition into the broader school curriculum by developing lesson plans for core school subjects that include agriculture and nutrition.

In his remarks, Director, Corporate and Government Affairs, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Bala Yesufu, said the Mondelez International Foundation, which owns 74.99 per cent of Cadbury Nigeria, is passionate about creating positive impact on people on the planet.

“The foundation, its partners and programmes have transformed the lives of more than a million children around the globe by increasing their nutrition knowledge, physical activity and access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

“The foundation recently added new programmes as part of its commitment to help communities thrive and improve well-being of School-age children and their families. This is one of such programmes and Cadbury Nigeria joins nine other countries in the Mondelez International family in this initiative, which will promote healthy lifestyles and address obesity,” he said.