A non-governmental organiation, Women In Dairy Production Association (WIDPA) has called on governments at all levels to introduce consumption of dairy products in school feeding programme, so as to address milk deficiency among the young ones.

President Women In Dairy Production Association, Racheal Eyitayo Ariori made the call while speaking at a forum organised for the students of State Senior College, Alimosho, Lagos to mark the World Milk Day 2025.

Eyitayo Ariori affirmed that the introduction of consumption of such products in school feeding events would not only improve nutrition and health ,but also increase school attendance and academic performance of the children, and potential economic opportunities for the dairy sector.

According to her, “Our prayer is that the government will inculcate dairy products in school feeding programme, at least twice in a week such products would be supplied to school children, that is our advocacy as it is been done in the Western world where they will serve fresh milk to school children .

“It would help them to have retentive memory , energy, and strength because it would increase the bones development and the teeth”.

While stressing the need for the government to support dairy sector, she said: “ Just like the government is giving subsidy to every other sector, these our children are the hope of tomorrow , we can also include that in the budget and partner with the existing multinationals that are already in this business of dairy production, we have a lot of farmers now that are in to dairy production, they are rearing healthy cows.

“Besides, there are other existing companies that are dairy producers , the government can partner with them so they will bring these products directly to these children, they will serve them, it will be part of their launch’’.

On her organisation’s initiative tagged “WIDPA and Dairy 4kids : Nourishing the Future”, she said was part of their commitment to address milk deficiency among children and educate communities on the critical role of dairy in child development .

Through the initiative, she said they are reaching vulnerable children, distributing nutritious dairy products to orphanages, IDP camps , and rural communities.

On his part, Chairman Board of Directors, Women In Dairy Production, Stephen Sola Olakojo described the theme of this year’s celebration , “lets celebrate the power of dairy”, as a unique one, adding that it stresses the importance of dairy products in the over all development of the young ones.