The Special Assistant to the Kaduna State Governor on School Feeding Programme, Dr Fauziya Buhari-Ado, has called for stronger humanitarian leadership and strategic collaboration to end hunger and accelerate Africa’s economic transformation.
Buhari-Ado made the call while receiving the 2025 4th Humanitarian Bootcamp Award where she delivered a presentation titled “Feeding the Future: Leveraging Humanitarian Leadership to Achieve Food Security and Economic Transformation in Africa.”
She emphasised that genuine leadership must be rooted in empathy, compassion, and practical policies that enhance citizens’ welfare.
“Humanitarian leadership is not about power, but about service.
“To feed our people and transform our economies, leaders must see hunger not as a statistic, but as a human crisis demanding action.”
Buhari-Ado expressed appreciation to Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State for his visionary leadership and support, crediting him for transforming the Kaduna State School Feeding Programme into a model of inclusive development.
“Governor Uba Sani’s confidence in my capacity to serve has made it possible to impact thousands of children across Kaduna State.
“The programme has improved nutrition, boosted school attendance, empowered women, and strengthened local agricultural value chains.”
She described the school feeding initiative as a holistic intervention that drives multiple sectors of the economy, symbolizing hope, care, and opportunity for the next generation.
“Each meal we provide is not just food; it is a bridge to learning, a shield against poverty, and a promise that we see and care for these children.
“Feeding our children is not charity — it is nation-building,”she said.
She underscored that food security must be treated as a strategic pillar of Africa’s development agenda, stressing that eradicating hunger was fundamental to achieving peace, productivity, and long-term stability on the continent.
She also celebrated women leaders who are shaping humanitarian and leadership landscapes in Africa, paying tribute to Dr. Martina Nentawe Yilwatda, Patron of the Women’s Leadership Network, and Mrs. Deborah Hornecker, the Network’s founder, for their mentorship and commitment to women’s empowerment.
“The Women’s Leadership Network is a powerful platform for collaboration and transformation,” she added.
“It unites professional women across sectors to promote inclusion, social impact, and leadership development,” she said.