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By Bianca Iboma-Emefu
Over 1,500 school children across three Ogoni communities in Rivers State have received nutritious meals and educational support as the Operation Feed Africa Initiative (OFA) joined forces with the Lagos Food Bank Initiative (LFBI) and ItelNigeria to commemorate World Food Day 2025.
The large-scale outreach embodies this year’s global theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Food and Better Future,” by tackling hunger and malnutrition among children in underserved communities. Beyond providing hot, nutritious meals, the program also distributed school materials and conducted awareness sessions on healthy eating habits — ensuring both immediate relief and long-term empowerment.
Speaking during the event, Boluwatife Josephine Akinpelu, Executive Director of Operations at Operation Feed Africa Initiative, reaffirmed the organization’s dedication to ending hunger and building sustainable food systems across Africa.
“Operation Feed Africa Initiative reaffirms its unwavering commitment to ending hunger and malnutrition. Our partnership with Lagos Food Bank Initiative and ItelNigeria — feeding over 1,500 children — demonstrates a hand-in-hand approach for a better food future,” she said. “This collaboration combines nutritious meals, school supplies, and nutrition education, reinforcing the pillars of nutrition, education, and sustainable community development.”
She expressed her unwavering commitment to ending hunger and malnutrition among Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.
Our partnership with Lagos Food Bank Initiative and ItelNigeria aims at feeding over 1,500 children — exemplifying a hand-in-hand approach for a better food future. This collaboration combines nutritious meals, educational materials, and nutrition awareness, reinforcing the pillars of nutrition, education, and sustainable community development. It not only addresses immediate hunger but also builds the foundation for a hunger-free Africa through long-term empowerment and food-security initiatives.”
The Lagos Food Bank Initiative, known for its nationwide hunger-intervention programs, and ItelNigeria, through its corporate social responsibility efforts, also reiterate their shared mission to empower vulnerable populations and ensure that no child goes to school hungry.
By combining resources and expertise, the three organizations showcase the power of partnership in advancing food security and child welfare in Nigeria. Their joint effort not only nourishes young lives but also strengthens the foundation for a hunger-free and hopeful Africa.
This year’s theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Food and a Better Future,” serves as a rallying cry for collective action against food insecurity, inspiring these organizations to deliver a comprehensive outreach aimed at transforming lives. The initiative provides not only nutritious meals but also essential school supplies and awareness programs promoting healthy eating habits — all designed to bolster both the physical well-being and educational prospects of the children.
The event underscores the critical importance of addressing immediate hunger while fostering long-term solutions rooted in nutrition, education, and community development. By doing so, the organizations are laying a foundation for a hunger-free Africa, one community at a time.
Lagos Food Bank Initiative, renowned for its extensive hunger intervention programs across Nigeria, and ItelNigeria, leveraging its corporate social responsibility arm to empower underserved communities, both reaffirm their dedication to creating sustainable change. Their joint efforts seek to ensure that vulnerable children have access to the basic necessities that form the cornerstone of a healthy and productive future.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with food insecurity challenges, this collaborative outreach demonstrates how strategic partnerships and community-driven initiatives can make tangible differences. It is a testament to the power of unity in creating a resilient, nourished, and hopeful generation.
With the success of this year’s World Food Day celebration, the participating organizations are committed to expanding their outreach, advocating for more inclusive policies, and fostering community-led solutions to eradicate hunger. The initiative not only brings immediate relief but also ignites a movement towards sustainable development and child empowerment across Nigeria and beyond.
