Strengthening School Feeding Programs to Reduce Dropout Rates Among Nigerian Youth

• In Event: Poster Session 7
  In Poster Session: Strengthening School Feeding Programs to Reduce Dropout Rates Among Nigerian Youth

Proposal

In Nigeria, more than three-fourth of the population lacks access to electricity—a necessity for internet connectivity; and one in five children are out of school. Against that backdrop, the rapid advancement of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has created transformative opportunities in education; however, these advancements risk exacerbating existing inequalities and creating new forms of educational exclusion. Although there are many forms of systemic barriers in accessing education in such as economic disparities or socio-cultural norms, this study argues that without addressing students’ foundational needs such as adequate nutrition, inadequate infrastructure, and access to equitable distributive high-quality education; digital initiatives can risk deepening inequality and creating new forms of poverty such as digital poverty. Specifically, this study asserts that combining improved infrastructure with adequate nutrition provides a powerful synergy that can enhance academic performance and reduce Nigerian student’s dropout rates. The National Home-Grown School Feeding Program (NHGSFP) in Nigeria, launched in 2005 and expanded in 2016, serves as a critical intervention in this regard.
Using panel data from the Nigerian General Household Survey (NGHS) across four waves (2010-2019), this study employs descriptive statistics, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), and fixed effects regression models to evaluate the NHGSFP's impact on dropout rates among students aged 5 to 25. The sample dataset contained 52,246 observations, with the main dependent variable being students drop out rates, while the independent variable was students’ participation in the school feeding program. The analysis reveals that participation in the NHGSFP significantly reduces dropout rates, when controlling for other factors such as sex, age, and geographical location. On average, students participating in the program were less likely to drop out compared to their non-participating peers (p<.01). The fixed effects model showed an even stronger effect, with the coefficient for school feeding program participation increasing from -.015 to -.087 and an R-squared of .247. Surprisingly, the program had the greatest impact on older students (aged 15 to 25), suggesting that at the senior secondary levels, dropout rates are typically higher, but the presence of a feeding program can curtail dropout rates.
The use of panel data and fixed effects models enhances the robustness of the findings, making a significant contribution to the understanding of how feeding programs can influence education participation rates in Nigeria. However, regardless, of the promises of NHGSFP, its effectiveness can vary across different demographic groups; therefore, to maximize its impact, it must be complemented by broader strategies addressing geographic isolation, gender disparities, and economic barriers.
The study concludes that integrating NHGSFP with broader infrastructure and digital access improvements can enhance educational access, reduce dropout rates, and provide marginalized communities with the stability needed to benefit from digital learning opportunities. By addressing both nutritional and infrastructural needs, policymakers can craft more effective strategies to promote universal access to quality education, improve health outcomes, and support equitable social mobility in Nigeria. This research contributes to the broader discourse on educational equity, health, and poverty alleviation in the context of a rapidly changing educational landscape.

Author

• Marisha Addison, University of Maryland - College Park